This Day in the War in Europe: The Beginning

[parsifal]

06 APRIL 1941 (Part I)
Losses
Armed yacht TORRENT (RN 336 grt), former ANNA MARIE, was sunk by mining off Falmouth.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

AMC COMORIN ( RN 15116 GRT), carrying military personnel for Freetown and escorting steamer GLENARTNEY with military stores for Suez, was escorted by DD LINCOLN when she caught fire in the Nth Atlantic. LINCOLN took off 121 survivors. British steamer GLENARTNEY rescued 104 survivors. DD BROKE arriving on the scene was called to assist and rescued 180 survivors. DD BROKE scuttled the crippled cruiser. 14 ratings were lost in the cruiser.

U.94 sank tkr LINCOLN ELLSWORTH (Nor 5580 grt) WSW of Iceland. Outward bound from Reykjavik to Trinidad, empty and with a crew of 29, the ship was hit at 1530 hrs on the port side forward of amidships by one G7a torpedo from U-94 about 150 miles WSW of Iceland. At 1601 hours, the tkr was hit aft by a coup de grace and developed a list to port, but did not sink. The U-boat surfaced and fired 121 rounds from the deck gun of which about 100 were hits, set the ship on fire and caused her to sink by the stern about 1700 hrs.

The crew had abandoned ship in two lifeboats after the first hit. The master and 12 survivors in one lifeboat were picked up after two days by HMS DERBYSHIRE off Sandar and landed at Reykjavik, while the survivors in the other boat were rescued by several small Icelandic fishing boats out of Hellissandur on 8 April.

Steamer DUNSTAN (UK 5149 grt) was sunk by the LW German bombing in the Western Approaches. Two crew were lost on the steamer. DD BOADICEA rescued the survivors.

Steamer NICOLAOU ZOGRAFIA (GK 7156 grt) was sunk by the LW in the Western Approaches. The entire crew of thirty one was rescued by destroyer ESKIMO which took them to Greenock, arriving on the 7th. DD ESKIMO arrived back at Scapa Flow on the 8th.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer OLGA S.(UK 2252 grt) was sunk by the LW in the Western Approaches. Four crew were lost.

Trawler DANELAND (UK 289 grt) was sunk by the LW 30 miles north by one half mile west of Rathlin O'Birne Island (off the west coast of Donegal). The entire crew was rescued.

Trawler NAERABERG (Faroes 352 grt) was sunk by the LW in Northern Waters. The entire crew was rescued.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
At Sea 06 April 1941
U-46, U-48, U-52, U-69, U-73, U-74, U-94, U-97 U-98, U-101, U-103, U-105, U-106, U-107, U-108, U-124

16 Boats at Sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
British steamer GLENFINLAS was damaged by LW in the Nth Sea of the East Coast of England. 11 crew were killed. The steamer was towed to Harwich arriving on the 7th. She was repaired in the Tyne.

Northern Patrol

Northern Waters

West Coast
OB.308 departed Liverpool, escort DDs CALDWELL, RAMSEY, RIPLEY, and VOLUNTEER, and corvettes HYDRANGEA, TULIP, and WALLFLOWER. Corvette WALLFLOWER was detached on the 10th. The escort was detached on the 11th when the convoy dispersed.

OG.58 departed Liverpool escort DDs BURWELL and WATCHMAN, sloops FLEETWOOD and WELLINGTON, corvettes AMARANTHUS, ARABIS, HELIOTROPE, and PRIMULA, special service vessel FIDELITY, and ASW trawlers NORTHERN GEM and NORTHERN SPRAY. DD MALCOLM joined the escort on the 9th. The 3 DDs, sloop FLEETWOOD, corvettes ARABIS and HELIOTROPE, and the two trawlers were detached on the 12th. On the 21st, the convoy arrived at Gibraltar escorted by sloop WELLINGTON, corvette PRIMULA, RNeN submarine O.21, and special service vessel FIDELITY. Corvette AMARANTHUS had been detached several days earlier due to shortage of supplies and arrived at Gibraltar on the 19th.

Western Approaches

SW Approaches
The German Battlecruisers holed up in Brest were reported preparing to leave port on the 6th. The proximity of major military and important civil convoys in the area forced the RN to commit substantial forces to a significant containment action

BB KG V departed Gibraltar on the 6th and joined CL KENYA which had departed Greenock. DDs SOMALI, BEDOUIN, MATABELE, and MASHONA joined KGV to be in interception positions against the DKM Heavy unitsby the morning of the 8th.

CA LONDON was ordered to relieve BC REPULSE escorting CVL FURIOUS and CVE ARGUS and British steamer NARKUNDA from Gibraltar. The group was to steam along the meridian 23W.

BB QUEEN ELIZABETH and BC REPULSE were ordered to take up interception positions of the German Battlecruiser force by the 9th.

Channel

BC HOOD and DDs ELECTRA, ESCAPADE, and TARTAR arrived at Scapa Flow5 for refuelling. HOOD and DDs ZULU, MAORI, and ARROW departed that evening to take up interception positions by the early hours of the 8th. DD COSSACK departed Londonderry on the 9th to join the HOOD group on the 11th. Thgis was arduous service, and on the 10th DD ARROW was detached to refuel at Londonderry. On the 12th DDs MAORI and ZULU were detached to Londonderry to refuel. HOOD and DDs COSSACK, ZULU, and MAORI returned to Scapa Flow on the 14th. DD ARROW, which was unable to maintain the speed and had been detached, arrived at Scapa Flow at just after sunrise on the 15th.


British Coastal Command aircraft attacked German destroyers STEINBRINCK, IHN, and HEINEMANN off Brest. DD IHN was near missed by bombs causing problems to her delicate machinery. She was narrowly missed by two torpedoes. The RAF was beginning to mount challenges to German control of the channel airspace after many months of having conceded it to them.

 

[Njaco]

April 7 Monday
UNITED KINGDOM: After several nights of quiet the Luftwaffe returned over the Avonmouth and Bristol areas. A single X-Verfahren guided He 111 from KGr 100 leads two Ju 88s of I./KG 54, one Ju 88 of II./KG 54, two Ju 88s of KGr 806, eight He 111s of I./KG 55, two He 111s of II./KG 55 and six He 111s of III./KG 55 to attack the British cities soon after 2100 hours. The only loss of the night is a He 111 from 1./KG 55 which is attacked and shot down by a Beaufighter from RAF No 219 Squadron. Two parachute mines landed near Willington Square, Northumberland near the Old Edward Pit. Police were refused access to site by a military guard because it was a top military secret. Police said there were strange contraptions in the field.

At the same time another formation of bombers is sent to raid Glasgow with 179 aircraft, Greenock and Liverpool with 43 aircraft. Two He 111s from II./KG 1 begin the attack on the cities at 2305 hours followed by one He 111 of KGr 100, one Ju 88 from III./KG 1, one He 111 of I./KG 27 and two He 111s from III./KG 27.

German bombers sank minesweeping trawler HMT "Rochebonne" off the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, England, killing 11.

In the fourth Budget of the war, Income Tax was raised to 10/- (50p) in the £1. From today, there are also cuts in personal allowances, the money raised by these cuts will be treated as compulsory savings to be repaid sometime after the war. 4,000,000 new taxpayers are said to have been created.

The Gloster E.28/39 jet powered prototype piloted by Chief Test Pilot P.E.G.Sayer commenced taxiing trials at Gloster's Hucclecote airfield in Gloucestershire, England.

MEDITERRANEAN: Unternehmen 25/ Unternehmen Marita: In the Balkans, Germans make good progress through Southern Yugoslavia towards the Greek border. A column of German 12.Armee crosses the Vardar river in Greece and took the Skoplje Gap and the Rupel Pass, opening the way into Serbia and Northern Greece. Yugoslavian troops were forced to withdraw to southern Macedonia when the Germans captured Skopje, exposing their flank. Advanced element of a German panzer division reached Skoplje, having fought their way 60 miles in 32 hours through incredibly difficult terrain. German troops from Bulgaria are held mounting a frontal assault on the Metaxas Line. German 2.Panzerdivision had reached Strumica, Yugoslavia by the end of the day, only 10 miles and a small mountain range from crossing into Greece and getting behind the Greek defenses in the Metaxas Line. As well as the frontal pressure on the Metaxas Line its left flank was now being threatened by 2.Panzerdivision which was preparing to move south into Greece after having reached Strumica. The Greek Commander in Chief, General Papagos, further weakens the Aliakmon Line by sending forward a Greek force from it to try to block this last German advance.

Hungary and Italy joined in the attack on Yugoslavia. The Italian Second Army crossed the Julian Alps and proceeded to drive down the Adriatic coast. Hungary occupied Yugoslavia territory north of the Danube which it had lost after the last war. The United Kingdom promised aid to Yugoslavia and broke off relations with Hungary.

Unternehmen Strafgericht: On the second day of operations over Yugoslavia the Luftwaffe conducts a second day of major attacks against Belgrade. The fighters of JG 54 engage fighters of Jugoslovensko Kraljevsko Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo {JKRV) in a massive air battle. In a strange twist of fate, the JKRV are flying former German Bf 109s given to Yugoslavia when the two enemies were allies. The JKRV Bf 109s attack a flight of twenty-six Ju 87 Stukas escorted by double that number of fighters. Hans Philipp of JG 54 downs two of the JKRV Bf 109s. Budapest claims Yugoslavian aircraft bombed three Hungarian airfields with eight bombers shot down. A whole formation of Yugoslavian Blenheim I bombers is shot down by Bf 109s of II./JG 54 along with a few RAF Hurricanes and IK-2 fighters. RAF bombers conducted a raid on Sofia, Bulgaria. The Messerschmitts of III./JG 54 conduct ground attack missions over the battlefront.

While flying from Taranto and Grottaglie in Italy, the single-engined fighters of 7./JG 26 and the twin-engined Zerstörers of III./ZG 26 conduct ground attack missions on the second day of the invasion. During one sortie, Oblt. Müncheberg destroys a Yugoslav Fury biplane. By the end of the day, III./ZG 26 gives up the battle and returns to Sicily for the Malta attacks. German planes effectively neutralized Yugoslavia's rail system by knocking out key junctions. With transportation so decisive a factor, those Yugoslav troops which had penetrated into Northern Albania were forced to withdraw.

On the Italo-Greek Front, Greek Western Macedonia Army continued attacking Italian 9th Army.

A Force of Albanian partisans, accompanied by British Col. Oakley-Hill, attempts to rally anti-Italian fighters in the north.

In Rumania, the aircraft of III./JG 77 under Major Alexander von Winterfeldt, arrive at Deta airfield to begin operations against the Yugoslavians.

NORTH AMERICA: US Navy transferred 3 battleships, 1 carrier, 4 light cruisers, 18 destroyers, and other ships from the Pacific Fleet to the Atlantic Fleet.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: British armed merchant cruiser HMS "Comorin", damaged by a fire on the previous day, was scuttled by the guns of destroyers HMS "Broke" and HMS "Lincoln" 450 miles west of Ireland after all survivors were rescued.

In the Caribbean, USA opens naval base on the British island of Bermuda (leased from Britain for 99 years in exchange for US destroyers). Captain Jules James in command. This will be home to the Central Atlantic Neutrality Patrol which initially comprises aircraft carrier USS "Ranger", cruisers USS "Tuscaloosa" and USS "Wichita" and 2 destroyers. These forces will be considerably increased by three battleships and two carriers later in April and during May and June.

German submarine U-124 sank Canadian ship "Portadoc" with 1 torpedo and 24 rounds from the deck gun 240 miles west of Freetown, Sierra Leone, British West Africa at 1750 hours. The entire crew of 20 survived in 2 lifeboats.

NORTH AFRICA: The British evacuated Benghazi. Before dawn, a motor column containing the British military governor of Cyrenaica, Libya Lieutenant General Philip Neame and British Lieutenant General Richard O'Connor got lost and were captured by a German patrol between Mechili and Derna. (O'Connor would later escape from captivity and end up commanding the VIII Corps in the Normandy invasion.) During the day, Axis troops captured Derna, Libya. By 0430 hours the first Australian units were beginning to arrive at Tmimi, where the 26th Australian Infantry Brigade took up a defensive position until the whole Division, and various other units who by design or chance had taken the desert track to the south of Derna, had passed through. Arriving at Tmimi in the early hours the senior staff officer, Brigadier A. F. Harding, found no signs of Generals Neame and O'Connor. Suspecting that they might have been captured and knowing that enemy troops were not far off, Brigadier Harding decided to establish main Command Headquarters at Tobruk, with an advanced echelon at Gazala. At 0630 hours he reported the situation to General Wavell. By the night of 7th April the general situation was as follows; 9th Australian Division, without its 24th Infantry Brigade, but with the Support Group, was in position astride the main road with its left flank at Acroma, some fifteen miles west of Tobruk. At Tobruk, preparing the defences, were the 18th and 24th Australian Infantry Brigades, the former having just arrived by sea after the move of 7th Australian Division to Greece had been stopped. A small force was at El Adem, watching the approaches from the south and south-west. At Mechili was General Gambier-Parry with his own headquarters, having taken under command Brigadier Vaughan's 3rd Indian Motor Brigade (less one regiment), M Battery R.H.A., part of 3rd Australian Anti-Tank Regiment, and various small units. He had been ordered to withdraw to El Adem that night.

Meanwhile General Rommel had intended to attack Mechili but had been unable to collect a sufficient force. British, Australian and Indian troops had dug in at Mechili (really more a series of trenches than a fort), which had been surrounded by Axis troops since the prior day. Their defenses included 1 Cruiser tank, some armored cars, 1 Bofors anti-aircraft gun, several "2 pounder" anti-tank guns and 1 "25 pounder" artillery piece. They expected reinforcements from British 2nd Armored Division tanks but they were already withdrawn to the East. Axis forces harassed the badly decimated British 2nd Armored Division and the 3rd Indian Brigade at the fort but the Axis forces were harassed throughout the day by the Blenheims of Nos. 45 and 55 Squadrons and by the one or two remaining Hurricanes of No. 3 Squadron R.A.A.F.. 'A' Squadron of the Long Range Desert Group hovered on the southern flank looking for an opportunity to make a diversion. General Johannes Streich's 5.Leichte Division surrounded the fort but they did not attack due to a sandstorms which jammed the turrets on the 6 available Panzer tanks. Rommel was furious at Streich for the delay and orders an attack the following morning.

British CIC Middle East General Wavell signals London his forces are too weak to send troops to Iraq as Allied forces began withdrawing toward Tobruk.

British forces and French Foreign Legionnaires occupied Massawa, the main Italian naval base in East Africa. Ten thousand Italians were captured. The Red Sea was now cleared of all Italian naval activity, which allowed for unobstructed runs through the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal. The fall of Massawa also permitted President Roosevelt to declare the red Sea was no longer a combat zone and opened the way for U.S. merchant ships to use the route.

British cruiser HMS "Capetown" bombarded Massawa, Eritrea, Italian East Africa. Italian torpedo boat MAS.213 counterattacked and seriously damaged HMS "Capetown" with a torpedo at 2315 hours, but "Capetown" was able to escape despite the damage. She would be towed to Bombay, India for repairs.

GERMANY: 229 British aircraft attack the Germany port of Kiel, temporarily halting submarine production. RAF Bomber Command sends 24 aircraft to attack Bremerhaven overnight.

ASIA: Chaing Kai-shek told the Executive Yuan that the Kuomintang would pursue a policy of cooperating with the Chinese Communists; "…these border imbroglios are mere secondary questions. We can't worry too much over such trivialities. As the international situation improves, they will automatically be settled. Let's wait at least until we get a definite assurance from England and the United States before we clamp down on the Communists".

WESTERN FRONT: RAF Bomber Command sends 25 aircraft to attack coastal targets.

.

 

[parsifal]

06 APRIL 1941 (Part II)
OPERATIONS (Cont'd)
Med/Biscay
Force H, with BC RENOWN, CV ARK ROYAL (now re-equipped with ASV radar equipped Swordfish), CLs FIJI and SHEFFIELD, and DDs FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, and FORESIGHT departed Gibraltar to operate in Biscay in containment operations for the German Battlecruiser force until 16 April. This was part of a major effort to blockade the German battleships at Brest. Some limited freedom of maneouvre was again available to the RN with the defeat of the Italians at Matapan.

The ships were joined at sea by DDs HIGHLANDER and FURY, which had been detached from the escort of BC REPULSE. DD VELOX on the 4th with battlecruiser REPULSE arrived back at Gibraltar on the 6th.

Oiler CAIRNDALE and submarine PANDORA were ordered to take up supporting positions further to the west.

Submarines TIGRIS, L.26, SUNFISH, H.50, TUNA, TAKU, TORBAY, H.34, OBERON, SEALION, H.44, and H.31 and Polish submarine SOKOL were on patrol in Biscay also to try and catch the German ships.

On the 8th, these dispositional orders were cancelled after information was received that the GNEISENAU was no longer seaworthy after being hit in Night Torpedo Strikes by RAF Beaforts (the pilot of the aircraft making the hit was killed and his a/c destroyed, but he received a VC for his bravery).

On the 10th, the submarines were dispersed. Submarines TORBAY and TAKU proceeded to Gibraltar and the rest returned to England. BC REPULSE, on relief by CA LONDON from daylight on the 7th, returned to Gibraltar. DDs HIGHLANDER, FURY, FORTUNE, and VELOX escorted the BC, arriving on the 12th. They had arrived off Gibraltar on the 11th, but were unable to enter because of bad weather.

BB KG V proceeded to Scapa Flow. BC HOOD and CL KENYA maintained a patrol until the 9th. BB QUEEN ELIZABETH gp maintained a patrol in vicinity of 45N, 23W until the 10th. The BB left her patrol area on the 11th and proceeded to Gibraltar.

Convoy AC 3 of troopship ULSTER PRINCE and steamer THURLAND CASTLE departed Alexandria at for Tobruk escorted by CLA CARLISLE and DDs DEFENDER and RAN VOYAGER. The convoyh were varying the remaining personnel of the 9th Div AIF then providing a rear guard against the advancing German forces in Cyrenaica and heading for Tobruk. RAN DDs WATERHEN and VENDETTA swept ahead of this convoy. CARLISLE and DDs VOYAGER and DEFENDER arrived back at Alexandria on the 8th.

Steamer CLAN FRASER (UK 7529 grt) of convoy ANF.24, carrying ammunition for the Allied forces in Greece was damaged by the LW and set afire in Piraeus. At 0330hrs on the 7th, her cargo of TNT exploded destroying the ship and heavily damaging the harbour.

Tug ELPIS (gk 150 grt (est)) was sunk at Piraeus.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

CL AJAX and RAN CL PERTH had arrived at Piraeus late on the 5th after screening convoys. CLA CALCUTTA was also in Piraeus at the time of the explosion.

The following ships were sunk in the air attacks on Piraeus

Steamer CITY OF ROUBAIX (UK 7108 grt). There were no casualties on steamer CITY OF ROUBAIX..

Steamer CYPRIAN PRINCE (UK 1988 grt). She was beached near Salamis after having been struck by a parachute mine. Four crew were lost in the attack.

Steamer PATRIS (UK 1706 grt), ex French Corte,

Armed yacht SURF (RN 496 grt), a veteran of WWI
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Salvage vessel VIKING (UK (ex-Danish) 386 grt),
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer ACROPOLIS (Gk 1393 grt),

Steamer STYLIANI (Gk 3256 grt),

Steamer EVOIKOS (Gk 4792 grt),
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Caique HALCYON (Gk 250 grt (est))
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer PETALLI (Gk 6565 grt) was set afire by the explosion. She was towed out of the harbour and sunk.

Auxiliary GEORGIOS (RHN 146 grt)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

British steamers GOALPARA, CLAN CUMMING, CINGALESE PRINCE, DEVIS, and KATIE MOLLER and Greek steamers AGAILIANI and CONSTANTINOS LOULOUDIS were damaged by LW attack on Piraeus. Steamer CINGALESE PRINCE was repaired at Port Said and Bombay. One crewman was killed on steamer DEVIS. Steamer DEVIS was temporarily repaired at Suez.

The port was largely unusable by this incident.

CLs AJAX, RAN PERTH, and CLA CALCUTTA departed Piraeus for Suda Bay late on the 7th.

Convoy AG.11 of five British ships, including armed boarding vessel FIONA to be detached en route to Tobruk, departed Alexandria escorted by DDs MOHAWK and WRYNECK and sloop GRIMSBY. Major General Weston, RM, and a recon party were embarked in destroyer MOHAWK to prepare for the establishment of a Mobile Base at Suda Bay. Two RHN DDs relieved MOHAWK on the 9th for duty with a striking force to be based at Malta. CLA CALCUTTA joined the convoy on the 8th. On the 9th, the ships were dispersed to Volo, Eleusis, Khalkis, and Stylis as Piraeus Harbour remained closed. CLA CALCUTTA proceeded to Suda Bay for fuel and ammunition.

Gunboat GNAT departed Alexandria for Tobruk. SAhe was followed by Gunboat LADYBIRD during the night of 7/8 April

The Greek Campaign – Brief overview of Land Operation – The Australian perspective
The Greek campaign, in which Australian, British and New Zealand troops, under the command of the British general, Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, supported Greek forces against the Axis powers, was an ill-planned, disastrous and short campaign. It resulted from Britain's earlier guarantee to support Greece if it were attacked without provocation.

The Greeks, assisted by British forces, had defeated an Italian invasion in October 1940. On 6 April 1941, German forces attacked Greece and Yugoslavia simultaneously. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was unable to secure support from Turkey for an Allied Balkan front; furthermore, the Australian and New Zealand governments, who provided most of the troops, were not privy to the planning of the operation. Prime Minister Robert Menzies was uneasy about the operation and sought unsuccessfully to have it reassessed.

From the outset, the Allied forces were vastly outnumbered. Some 58,000 men, including two thirds of the Australian 6th Division, were transported from Africa and, together with the Greek Army, faced two German armies: the 12th, consisting of 13 divisions, and the 2nd, with 15 divisions, and including four armoured divisions in each. The campaign was hindered by poor communications between the Greek and British commanders, the primitive road and rail system in Greece, the difficult terrain, and the speed and success of the German advance. On the first day, the Germans made a devastating air attack on Piraeus; the Allies lost the initiative and never regained it. Yugoslavia capitulated quickly, cutting the Greek supply route to its forces on the Italian front. Within a week, General Wilson's forces were in retreat.

Lieutenant General John Coates has summed up the campaign thus:

Yet, as in almost every Allied campaign in the early part of the war, the worst mistakes of the politicians and strategists were moderated by the bravery, fighting qualities and sheer dogged determination of the troops. Greece was no exception.

Australian and New Zealand troops (redesignated the ANZAC Corps) undertook some very successful local fighting but withdrawal was soon inevitable. The occupation of historic Thermopylae Pass by Vasey's 19th Bde was merely a respite in the retreat down to Athens. The evacuation began on 24 April and over 50,000 troops were removed over five successive nights. A number of small, isolated groups and individual Allied soldiers who had been cut off from the retreat were left behind in Greece but most were gotten away thanks to the RNs and RANs efforts. Many of these escaped largely owing to the bravery of the Greek people who assisted them at great risk to themselves.

Over 26,000 weary Allied troops landed on Crete in the last week of April 1941. They remained on the island for less than a month. In a brief, savage campaign, the Australians inflicted heavy losses on the German paratroopers two thirds of whom were killed or wounded. Another rearguard action by the 2/7th Battalion, AIF, and the New Zealand Maori bn left 280 German dead and allowed the retreating forces to reach the evacuation point in Suda Bay. HMAS PERTH was hit while carrying members of the AIF back to Egypt. The British admiral in charge of evacuation called it "a disastrous period in our naval history".

Although 15,000 men were evacuated by ships of the RN and the RAN from Crete, some 12,000 Allied troops, including 3,000 Australians, were left on Crete and became pows of war of the Germans. As in Greece, some made daring escapes. Many were sheltered by the people of Crete. The war cemetery at Suda contains the graves of 139 men of the AIF and the RAAF.

The Greek campaign remains controversial. It did not succeed in its primary object to assist the effective defence of Greece, and the Australians and New Zealanders sustained heavy losses. It came at a heavy cost in Cyrenaica as well. Afterwards, both the 6th Australian and the 2nd New Zealand Divisions had to be rebuilt and this took a lot of time.

Australian Army Ford 4x4 artillery tractor towing a No 27 Mk I limber and an 18 pounder Mk IV field gun in the Verroia Pass, Greece, April 1941.The vehicle has just negotiated a stone bridge through the winding and steep Verroia Pass, Greece. 1400 units of these Ford vehicles were purchased by the Australian Army between 1939 and 1941 and many of these were converted to four wheel drive at the Lidcombe Railway works by fitting a Marmon-Herrington front wheel drive kit to the chassis. 441 of these vehicles were sent to the Middle East in 1940 and 54 of these subsequently saw service during the Greek campaign in April 1941. These vehicles were powered by an 85 horsepower V8 engine with a four speed gearbox and two speed transfer case. They had leaf spring suspension and were also fitted with an Australian roadster style cab, making them a uniquely Australian vehicle. The Official designation for these vehicles was Tractor 4x4, Artillery (Aust), LP No 3 and 3A (fitted with a winch). This particular vehicle, with the army registration number 9964 was transported to Greece aboard the MV Comliebank but was later abandoned when the Australian forces were evacuated.

Nth Atlantic
Convoy HX.119 departed Halifax AMC MONTCLARE. BB REVENGE joined the convoy at sea.

Convoy HX.119A departed Halifax, escorted by AMC AURANIA and corvettes CHAMBLY and ORILLIA. The corvettes were detached the next day. On the 8th, BB REVENGE joined the convoy and travelled with it until 11 April. CA NORFOLK was with the convoy from 14 to 16 April. The AMC was detached on the 15th. DDs HAVELOCK, HURRICANE, RESTIGOUCHE, and SAGUENAY joined the convoy for the home waters legs on the 16th. On the 17th, DD VISCOUNT, sloop SCARBOROUGH and corvettes AURICULA, CAMPANULA, HIBISCUS, PIMPERNEL, and RHODODENDRON reinforced the convoy. DD ROCKINGHAM and corvette FREESIA joined on the 18th and corvette HOLLYHOCK on the 19th. DD SAGUENAY was detached on the 20th, DDs RESTIGOUCHE and VISCOUNT and corvettes FREESIA on the 21st. The remainder of the escort was dispersed when the convoy arrived Liverpool on the 22nd.

Convoy HX.119 B departed Halifax, escort corvettes COBALt and COLLINGWOOD. The corvettes were detached the next day. AMC MONTCLARE was with the convoy from 13 to 15 April. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 22nd

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
Steamer MAROUSSIO LOGOTHETI (Gk 4669 grt) and Steamer IANNIS (Gk 4391 grt) were seized by Vichy French authorities at Madagascar. The steamers were renamed DUQUESNE and AMIRAL PIERRA, respectively, for French use.

Steamer MAROUSSIO LOGOTHETI (Gk 4669 grt), no image of the IANNIS found


Steamer ANTONIA C. (FI 5877 grt) was scuttled at Massawa. The steamer was later salved by the British.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer RIVA LIGURE (FI 2136 grt) was scuttled at Massawa. The steamer was later salved.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer TRIPOLITANIA (FI 2722 grt) was scuttled off Dulac Is. The steamer was later salved.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer CAPITANO BOTTEGO (FI 2316 grt) was scuttled off Dulac Is. The steamer was later salved.

Convoy BN.24 departed Bombay, escorted by CL COLOMBO. The convoy arrived at Aden on the 13th.

Pacific/Australia
At Wellington, NZ, RAN CA AUSTRALIA lost her Seagull aircraft when the catapult failed during launching. Lt J. J. Hoath was killed. Petty Officer R. Clark and Leading Airman G. A. S. Stephenson were seriously injured

Malta
No Air raids

Cyrenaica
British and Australian troops hurriedly evacuated Barce and Derna, Libya, falling back toward Tobruk to avoid being cut off by the advancing German troops. On the same day, Axis troops captured Msus, Libya, a major fuel and supply dump; the fuel was destroyed by the Allies before German capture. German troops besieged Mechili by 1700 hours. After dark, British generals General Neame and O'Connor began evacuating themselves to Tmimi west of Tobruk.

 

[parsifal]

07 APRIL 1941
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Flower Class Corvette HMS WOODRUFF (K-53)

Bangor Class MSW HMCS COWICHAN (J-146)

Isles Class MSW Trawler HMS CANNA (T-161)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Fairmile B Class MLs 210 & 229
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Losses
MSW trawler ROCHE BONNE (RN 258 grt), was sunk by the LW 8 miles SSE of the Lizard. 10 of the crew were lost and 1 further crewman died of wounds
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

U.124 sank steamer PORTADOC (Cdn 1746 grt) offshore of Sierra Leone. The ship was in ballast when lost, outward bound from Canada to Freetown. At 1739 hrs the unescorted PORTADOC was hit by one torpedo in the stern fired by U-124 about 150 miles sw of Freetown. The ship settled by the stern but did not sink, so the U-boat surfaced at 1750 hrs and shelled her with 21 rounds from the deck gun and the 20mm AA gun. The master and 19 crew members had abandoned ship in two lifeboats and were provided with water after being questioned. The survivors made landfall six days later at Benty, French Guinea and were interned by the Vichy French authorities. They were eventually repatriated.

Steamer ELISABETH (UK (ex-Danish) 945 grt) was sunk on a mine five miles ESE of Porthscatho, S. E. Cornwall with the loss of 10 crew

Trawler SYLVIA (UK 213 grt) was sunk by the LW in the Western Approaches. One crewman was lost on the trawler.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Departures
St Nazaire: U-552

At Sea XX XXXXX 1941
U-46, U-48, U-52, U-69, U-73, U-74, U-94, U-97 U-98, U-101, U-103, U-105, U-106, U-107, U-108, U-124, U-552

17 Boats at Sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
British steamer KIRNWOOD was damaged by the LW in the Nth Sea

Northern Waters
British authorities expected an air raid on Scapa Flow during the night and ships were ordered to clear the anchorage. BB PRINCE OF WALES, escorted by DDs ELECTRA and ESCAPADE, departed Scapa Flow. RAN DD NESTOR, which had departed Scapa Flow for Greenock earlier, was recalled and joined the escort. Also sailing were CA EXETER, CL ARETHUSA, CLA CURACOA, and AA ships POZARICA, and SPRINGBANK. When no raid materialised, the ships returned to Scapa Flow during the morning of 8 April. NESTOR continued to Greenock, arriving at 1116 on the 9th.

AA ship ALYNBANK did not return immediately to Scapa, She was scheduled to depart Scapa Flow to carry out exercises prior to joining convoy WN.10 in the Pentland Firth. The convoy was covered to Methil. The ship transferred to Convoy EC-4 off May Island on the 9th. ALYNBANK was back at Scapa Flow on the 10th

West Coast
OB.307 departed Liverpool, escort DDs KEPPEL and VENOMOUS, corvettes DIANELLA, KINGCUP, and SUNFLOWER, ASW yacht PHILANTE, and ASW trawlers LADY ELSA, MAN O.WAR, and NORTHERN DAWN. DD KEPPEL was detached on the 11th. The remainder of the escort was detached on the 13th when the convoy dispersed

Med/Biscay
Steamer KYRA PANAGIA II (Gk 1012 grt) was sunk by the LW at Piraeus.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Nth Atlantic
The U. S. Navy Base at Bermuda was commissioned, Captain Jules James, USN, commanding. American TG 7.2, which departed the New York Navy Yard on the 6th, arrived at Bermuda on the 8th with CV RANGER, CAs TUSCALOOSA, and WICHITA, DDs KEARNEY and LIVERMORE provided ASW escort

Central Atlantic
German tanker NORDMARK replenished U.105 and U.106 at sea prior to the submarines proceeding to Rio de Janiero to escort German steamer LECH (3290grt).

In mid April, submarine U.105 is detached from this duty and proceeded to Freetown. -EndFragment--> italic'>[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
Italian MAS.213 departed Massawa and at 2315 torpedoed CL CAPETOWN which was bombarding the port in Operation ATMOSPHERE. The CL's stern was badly damaged. Four ratings were killed. DDs KIMBERLEY and KINGSTON came into the area to assist. The ship was towed to Port Sudan by sloop HMAS PARRAMATTA and escorted by RIN sloop INDUS, arriving on the 10th. The cruiser was towed on to Bombay for repair. She arrived on 20 May in tow of tug TAIKOO and escorted by special service vessel BOTLEA. Repairs were completed in July 1942.

BN.23 departed Suez, escorted by sloop RIN HINDUSTAN. Sloop SHOREHAM joined on the 8th. Sloop HINDUSTAN was detached on the 10th and sloop SHOREHAM on the 11th. The convoy arrived at Suez on the 13th.

BS.23 departed Suez, escorted by sloop CLIVE. Sloops HINDUSTAN and SHOREHAM joined on the 11th. Sloops CLIVE and HINDUSTAN were detached on the 12th. The convoy was dispersed on the 14th.

Pacific/Australia
NZ manned CL ACHILLES departed Wellington with RAN CA AUSTRALIA and CL HOBART escorting two liners to Australia. On the 10th, the NZ cruiser departed the convoy and put into Jervis Bay, NSW lic'>[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 7 APRIL TO DAWN 8 APRIL 1941

WeatherFine at first; very wet evening and night.

1304-1317 hrs Air raid alert for one JU 88 which passes over the Island towards Hal Far but drops no bombs. Two Hurricanes are scrambled; no interception.

OPERATIONS REPORTS MONDAY 7 APRIL 1941

AIR HQArrivals7 Wellington; 4 Bombay. 69 Squadron Maryland reconnaissance eastern Tunisian coast for enemy shipping; nil report on account of bad weather. Maryland despatched for photo-reconnaissance of Tripoli is unable to reach its objective on account of bad weather and fighter patrol; reported on merchant convoys at sea. Maryland reconnaissance for shipping to the east of Sicily.

KALAFRANA Sunderland arrived from Greece with distinguished passengers.

Cyrenaica
On 7 Apr, O'Connor and Neame, while travelling to their headquarters which had been withdrawn from Maraua to Timimi in Libya, were captured by a German patrol near Martuba.

During the day, Axis troops captured Derna, Libya. 50 miles to the south, British, Australian, and Indian troops prepared their defenses at Mechili, which had been outflanked by Axis troops since the previous day. The Axis forces had not yet attacked Mechili due to sandstorms; Rommel ordered that an attack must be launched on the next day, as he was keen to secure the capture of Tobruk, which he believed to be inadequately defended.

GOC Moreshead commanding the 9th Div and the defences at Tobruk troops to occupy the so called "Red Line", the critical outer defences of Tobruk. These positions have been repaired and improved since the 9th occupied Tobruk in February.

Lt Gen Rommel receives yet another berating from his titular superior, Gen Gariboldi, for the risks he is taking. The Italians are convinced that at any moment the British forces will mount devastating flank attacks on the thinly spread and disjointed Axis forces. Rommel ignores Gariboldi. and reaps the benefit of capturing Mechili without a shot hardly being fired the following day.

Few photos remain on the Allied side of the retreat from Benghazi. This is a shot of members of 2/3 LAA Bn AIF just outside Derna, on or about the 7th April.

 

[Njaco]

April 8 Tuesday
MEDITERRANEAN: Unternehmen 25/ Unternehmen Marita: Germans advance in Southern Yugoslavia towards and into Greece. The German offensive is extended with the start of attacks by Kleist's 1st Panzer Group. German 2.Panzerdivision traverses a small mountain range and crosses the Greek border at Dojran Lake. German 73. Infanterie-Division moves into the Monastir Valley and captures the town of Prilep, on the rail line to Salonika, ready to swarm down the wide, flat valley to the Greek border. German 6.Gebirgs-Division breaks through the Metaxas Line at a point considered impassable by the Greeks, by crossing a 7,000 ft mountain range. They advance west, into Yugoslavia, over the Bulgarian border and by evening have destroyed the Yugoslav forces on the frontier and have advanced as far as Nis. German 14.Korps under General von Kleist captures Nis. Finally, German bombers attacked Belgrade, Yugoslavia for the third time.

A Croatian government was proclaimed in Zagreb as German troops reached the outskirts of the city. Croatian soldiers mutiny in Bjelovar. The Croats were generally favorably disposed to the Germans a fact recognized by the Germans who spared all cities in Croatia from air attack.

On the Italo-Greek Front, Greek Western Macedonia Army cancels offensive when Yugoslavian forces were unable to cooperate.

An Italian supply convoy departs Naples for Tripoli with five freighters escorted by three torpedo boats.

NORTH AFRICA: Aided by a drawing of the Massawa defenses discovered in the Italian War Office at Asmara, British, Indian and Free French troops capture hill forts surrounding Massawa. Colonel Ralph Monclar of the French Foreign Legion rushes ahead and captures the Italian admiralty building. RAF aircraft sank Italian minelayer "Ostia" in the Massawa harbor. Avoiding capture, Italian destroyer "Orsini" and 12 other vessels were scuttled. The harbour is an unusable mess of partially sunk ships plus dumped cargo, tanks and other vehicles. Shortly after, British General Heath accepted the formal surrender by Italian Admiral Bonetti and his 10,000-strong garrison. Prior to the surrender, ammunition and supply dumps were destroyed. But seventeen large Axis merchant ships are taken in the port along with many smaller military and civilian vessels. The 4th Indian Division, which has played a large part in the Allied campaign in Eritrea, is immediately prepared for shipping to Egypt where the Allied forces are under great pressure. The priority in the East African campaign is now to clear the road between Asmara and Addis Ababa. Forces are being sent to this task from both ends of the road.

HMAS "Parramatta", (sloop), towed the damaged cruiser HMS "Capetown" to the port of Massawa. The cruiser had been attacked and torpedoed by Italian destroyers in the Red Sea.

Before dawn, German General Erwin Rommel sends his main force German 5.Leichte Division to attack the fort at Mechili, attacking from east and west. British, Australian and Indian troops realize that reinforcements are not coming and attempt to break out at dawn. A sandstorm confuses the fighting, allowing 300 Allied troops to get away to Tobruk but 2000 are captured. Indian 3rd Motorized Brigade was overrun and destroyed and British 2nd Armored Division commander General Gambier-Parry captured. Rommel appropriates Gambier-Parry's plastic goggles and two Dorchester armored cars (renamed Max and Moritz after characters in a children's story). Thus is born the image of Rommel in his command vehicle with goggles on his peaked cap. British CIC Middle East General Wavell orders that Tobruk must be held at all costs. Rommel cannot go much further without a port to resupply his armored columns but if Tobruk falls he can advance all the way to Cairo, Egypt (so weak are the British defenses). The job of holding Tobruk falls to the 9th Australian Division.

Major General John Lavarack assumed the duties of Lieutenant General Philip Neame as the British military governor of Cyrenaica, Libya; Neame was captured by a German patrol on the previous day.

British CIC Middle East General Wavell flew to Tobruk, taking with him Major-General J. D. Lavarack, commander of the 7th Australian Division. The aircraft transporting General Wavell suffered engine failure and lands in the desert near Sollum, but he was rescued by armored car.

UNITED KINGDOM: At 1213 hours Lt. Hans Kolbow of II./JG 51 shoots down a RAF Spitfire near Manston, England.

German bombers conducted a raid on Coventry, England overnight with 237 aircraft.

HRH The Princess Royal visited Hull.

The Gloster E.28/39 jet powered prototype made a series of short hops along the Hucclecote airfield runway in Gloucestershire, England before being dismantled and moved by road to RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire, England where it was felt that the longer runway would be an advantage for flight tests.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-107 sank British ship "Eskdene" with 2 torpedoes and 104 rounds from the deck gun 200 miles south of the Azores at 0742 hours; the entire crew of 39 survived. At 1940 hours, U-107 sank British ship "Helena Margareta" in the same region; 27 were killed, 9 survived.

German submarine U-124 sank British ship "Tweed" 150 miles off Freetown, Sierra Leone, British West Africa at 1225 hours; 3 were killed, 22 survived in 2 lifeboats.

GERMANY: RAF Bomber Command sends 160 aircraft to attack Kiel and 22 aircraft to attack Bremerhaven overnight. RAF Bomber Command sends 17 aircraft to attack coastal targets.

.

 

[parsifal]

08 APRIL 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type VIIC U-80
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Used as a school Boat throughout her career

Allied
Flower Class Corvette HMCS CHILLIWICK (K-131)

Fairmile B ML 226
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Losses
U.107 sank steamer ESKDENE (UK 3829 grt) in the Central Atlantic, west of Gibraltar. She was on passage to Buenos Aires with a lod of coal when lost and had a complement of 39 aboard. The entire crew was rescued. At 0742 hrs the ESKDENE, dispersed from convoy OG-57, was hit by two torpedoes fired by U-107 SE of the Azores and was sunk by the U-boat with 104 rounds of gunfire. Survivors were rescued on the same day by the British steam merchant PENHALE and landed at Pernambuco on 22 April.

U.107 sank steamer HELENA MARGARETA (UK 3316 grt) in the central Atlantic, whilst on passage from the Tyne to Takoradi. 27 crew were lost with only 9 crew rescued. She was empty at the time of her loss. At 1940 hrs the HELENA MARGARETA, dispersed from convoy OG-57, was hit by one torpedo fired by U-107 and sank about 330 miles west of Madeira. The master, six crew members and two gunners were picked up on 14 April by the fleet oiler CAIRNDALE and landed at Gibraltar five days later. The master Owen Thomas Jones was awarded the Lloyds War Medal for bravery at sea.

[NO IMAGE FOUND]

U.124 sank steamer TWEED (UK 2697 grt) off the coast of Sierra Leone, whilst on passage from the tyne to Pepel. She was empty when lost. With a crew of 31, of which 3 were lost. At 1225 hrs the unescorted TWEED, dispersed from convoy OB-296, was hit underneath the bridge by one torpedo from U-124 sw of Freetown. The ship was missed by a second torpedo two minutes later because she turned, but sank by the bow at 1230 hrs.. The U-boat surfaced after the attack, approached a capsized lifeboat and took the ten men on it aboard for questioning. While the boat was rightened, the German doctor took care of an injured crew member and they were all allowed to reboard the lifeboat. The master, 25 crew members and two gunners in two lifeboats made landfall at Conakry, French West Africa.

Tkr AHAMO (UK 8621 grt) was sunk on a mine struck a mine in the swept channel out of Grimsby. The explosion, occurring on the port side aft, wrecked and flooded the engine-room and adjacent crew quarters, sinking AHAMO in shallow water with her bow still buoyant. Fearing the possibility of an air or E-boat attack at daylight. Captain T. Potts gave orders to abandon ship. The survivors were picked up and returned to Grimsby the same day. Attempts to salvage AHAMO were unsuccessful and she was declared a total loss. Thirteen men lost their lives.

UBOATS
Arrivals
St Nazaire: U-48

At Sea 08 April 1941
U-46, U-52, U-69, U-73, U-74, U-94, U-97 U-98, U-101, U-103, U-105, U-106, U-107, U-108, U-124, U-552

16 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
British steamer CORMARSH was damaged by the LW off Sheringham Buoy off the Norfolk coast. The steamer arrived at Hull.

British steamer CHAUCER was damaged by the LW near Humber Light Vessel. The steamer was attacked again on the 9th. The steamer arrived at Hull on the 9th

Channel
DD INTREPID, escorted by DDs CLEVELAND and FERNIE, laid minefield JO in the English Channel. DD ICARUS had also loaded mines and was planned to sail on this operation, but was held back due to vibration experienced between 15 and 25 knots.

Med/Biscay
An Afrika Korps supply convoy of steamers LEVERKUSEN, WACHTFELS, ARCTURUS, CASTELLON, and ERNESTO departed Naples escorted by TBs PROCIONE, CIGNO, and ORIONE, and arrived at Tripoli on the 10th without event.

CL AJAX and RAN CL PERTH departed Suda Bay to provide cover for convoys AG.11 and ASF.24. Convoy ASF.24 of five British ships and supply ship BRECONSHIRE departed Piraeus escorted by DDs HAVOCK and HOTSPUR, and arrived at Alexandria on the 11th.

At sea on the 8th in the eastern Mediterranean were

AN.25 of nine steamers escorted by CLA COVENTRY and DDs JERVIS and JANUS. AG.11 of six steamers escorted by DD MOHAWK, AA DD WRYNECK, and sloop GRIMSBY. Two RHN DDs joined G.11 to replace DD MOHAWK.

DDs NUBIAN, HERO, and DEFENDER departed Alexandria in company. DDs HERO and DEFENDER relieved DDs JANUS and JERVIS in convoy AN.25 escort. DDs JERVIS, JANUS, and MOHAWK were ordered to Suda Bay. They arrived on the 9th and joined DD NUBIAN. DDs ENCOUNTER and ISIS arrived at Suez to join the Med Flt. The DDs and sloop FLAMINGO arrived at Alexandria on the 9th.

Greek steamer EKATERINI COUMANTAROU was damaged by the LW at Piraeus. The steamer was further damaged on 9, 11, and 15 April in bombing

Central Atlantic
AMC BULOLO captured Vichy steamer FORT DE FRANCE, which had departed Martinique on the 1st for Casablanca,. The steamer was sent towards Gibraltar under armed guard. This evoked a considerable response from Vichy naval forces

Vichy DD FOUGUEUX had departed Casablanca on the 7th to escort the steamer into port. On the 10th, CL PRIMAUGUET and DDs ALBATROS, SIMOUN, and FRONDEUR departed Casablanca to intercept the steamer and joined FOUGUEUX.

CLs GEORGES LEYGUES and MONTCALM and DDs FANTASQUE and TERRIBLE departed Dakar on the 10th to intercept the steamer if it proceeded towards Freetown.

Submarines SIDI FERRUCH, AURORE, CASABIANCA, and ARCHIMEDE departed Casablanca to search. The steamer was stopped on the 12th by CL PRIMAUGET and boarded by marines from Vichy DD ALBATROS. The steamer taken to Casablanca, arriving on the 13th. The prize crew and armed guard were interned. The prize crew was later released and arrived at Gibraltar on 18 May. On 23 May, the crew left Gibraltar in DD HAVELOCK and arrived at Liverpool on 1 June.

ASW trawler KINGSTON CHRYSOLITE sighted FORT DE FRANCE and her Vichy escorts on the 12th.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
ML OSTIA (RM 650 grt) was sunk at Massawa by the RAF with all mines still in her racks.

Sirtori Class DE ORSINI (RM 837 grt) was scuttled at Massawa

Old MAS Boats MAS.204 (RM 20 grt(est)), MAS.206 (RM 20 grt(est)), MAS.210 (RM 20 grt(est)), MAS.213 (RM 20 grt(est)), and MAS.216 (RM 20 grt(est)) were scuttled at Massawa.

RM MAS 204 and 213 at Massawa

Steamer COLOMBO (FI 11,760 grt) was scuttled at Massawa. The steamer was later salved.

Steamer CLELIA CAMPENELLA (FI 3245 grt) was scuttled at Massawa. The steamer was salved as EMPIRE PRIZE.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tkr GIOVE (FI 5211grt) was scuttled at Dulac Island. The tanker was salved as EMPIRE TROPHY.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer PROMETEO (FI 4958 grt) was scuttled at Dulac Island. The steamer was later salved.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Coastal steamer SOLE (FI 15 grt) was scuttled at Massawa.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Coastal steamer ARDITA (FI 19 grt) was scuttled at Massawa.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Coastal steamer SAN GIORGIO (FI 90 grt) was scuttled at Massawa.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Coastal steamer PIRANO (FI 108 grt) was scuttled at Massawa. The steamer was later salved.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Coastal steamer TRIESTE (FI 96 grt) was scuttled at Massawa.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Coastal steamer MARIO M. (FI 18 grt) was lost in the Red Sea due to unknown cause
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Pacific/Australia
FNFL troopship FELIX ROUSSEL, carying Indian troops, departed Singapore.

CL DAUNTLESS escorted the steamer from the vicinity of Penang to 10N, 80E. The troopship arrived at Bombay on the 18th.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 8 APRIL TO DAWN 9 APRIL 1941
Weather Storm conditions; heavy rain in the morning, easing by evening.
No air raids.

AIR HQ Departures2 Sunderland.
KALAFRANA Sunderland L5806 left for United Kingdom with Mr Anthony Eden. Sunderland L5807 left for Gibraltar with passengers and freight.

Mooring vessel MOOR was sunk on a mine 270 yards 211° from Ricasoli Breakwater Light Vessel, Malta.

Cyrenaica
Rommel receives some protests from some of his subordinate commanders, in particular Major General Johannes Streich, who refuses to take his unit further into uncharted and unrecce'd desert. Rommel dresses him down, giving a direct order to continue, stating "one cannot allow unique opportunities for the sake of risks and trifles. Rommel's audacity pays off, with the faultess capure of Mechili, a vital staging area for the assault he want to mount on Tobruk.

With Rommel rarely in contact with his HQ.staff during this period, it is his resourceful and capable CoS Col Von Dem Borne who changes the objective to the more ambitious Tobruk away from Mechili. There is in fact no resistance to be overcome at Mechili. Borne is recorded as saying "it is my opinion that the thrust should bypass Mechili, leaving it to the 27th Brescia, and direct its MLA to Tobruk. You are authorized to change the orders and emphasise an immediate assault on the defences at Tobruk.". This was easier said than done, as 5th Light division by this time was strung out over several hundred kilometers, and beginning already to have supply difficulties.

Austrlian troops occupy the Tobruk Red Line April 8th

 

[Njaco]

April 9 Wednesday
UNITED KINGDOM: 237 German bombers conducted a raid on Birmingham, England, dropping 285 tons of high explosive bombs and 1,110 incendiary bombs. The night losses of KG 55 begin to rise. During the mission to Coventry and Birmingham, the I and II Gruppen lost four Heinkels to Hurricanes from RAF No 151 Squadron and Defiants from RAF No 264 Squadron. Three of the bombers crashed in England while the fourth was damaged returning to France. British vessel "Dudley Rose" sunk by Luftwaffe aircraft.

Heavy Luftwaffe attacks on docks, dockyard and industrial installations downstream from Newcastle to Tynemouth and South Shields, between 2320 and 0426 hours. One hundred and sixteen enemy aircraft dropped 152 tonnes of HE and thousands of IBs. More than fifty German bombers dropped a large number of IBs over north and west of city, which started sixty-eight fires and caused widespread damage in Newcastle. Among the buildings hit was the Lifeboat Station near the Fish Quay and Preston Institute where the X-ray Department was demolished, and two patients and three male attendants were killed. An ambulance received a direct hit proceeding from Whitley Bay and trains in sidings at Monkseaton were set on fire. Over 400 smaller fires were also started but quickly extinguished. The manager of the North Shields works of the Newcastle and Gateshead Gas Co, Mr C.J. Duncan was awarded the BEM, his daughter Miss L. Duncan was commended for her actions and the yard foreman Mr J Callaghan was awarded the GM for the parts they played in smothering an IB which fell on a gas holder. (Please check the link to get a sense of what just one single night during the Blitz was like. NE Diary 1939-45; Incidents 9th April 1941 to 9th/10th April 1941 )

MEDITERRANEAN: Unternehmen 25/ Unternehmen Marita: The resistance of the Greek forces in the Metaxas Line collapses. German 2.Panzerdivision quickly moves south from Dojran Lake across the coastal plain to the major Greek port of Salonika on Agean Sea. There, the division's tanks smashed into Salonika, Greece. In 4 days, they have outflanked Mataxas Line, isolating Greek forces in Macedonia and Thrace. In addition, German troops arrive at the Monastir Gap in Southern Yugoslavia ready to cross the unfortified border into Greece. This will allow them to cut off the main bulk of Greek Army facing the Italians in Albania and also to get behind the British and ANZAC forces in the Aliakmon Line defending against attack from Bulgaria. It will not be possible to hold a strong attack here, although General Wilson (commanding British and Anzac forces in Greece) has strengthened the defending force and it will, therefore, be necessary to withdraw from some of the Aliakmon positions. This possibility is discussed with Greek Commander in Chief, General Papagos, and he concurs. Nis in eastern Yugoslavia fell to the 11.Panzerdivision, opening the southern back door to Belgrade. Djevdjeliya was taken, cutting the last land link between Yugoslavia and Greece. German tanks enter Thessalonika, trapping the Greek 2nd Army in the Metaxas line, forcing General Bakopoulos to surrender the Greek Eastern Macedonia Army. Meanwhile, farther north, the German 2.Armee (commanded by Weichs) joins the attack on Yugoslavia. Two corps move south over the Austrian border, quickly taking Maribor. The third corps, 46.Panzerkorps, is based in Hungary and begins to seize crossings over the Drava River. The two corps from Kleist's force which began the attack on Yugoslavia have now moved through the southern part of the country and into Greece.

Oblt. Müncheberg's 7./JG 26 returns to its airfields in Sicily along with a single Stuka Gruppe to continue the German attacks on Malta.

In Italy, the P.111 prototype aircraft took its first flight.

An Italian supply convoy departs Naples for Tripoli with five freighters escorted by a destroyer and two torpedo boats.

WESTERN FRONT: RAF Bomber Command sends 20 aircraft to attack coastal targets. RAF Fighter Command conducted Rhubarb operations. At 1135 hours Hptm. Josef Fözö of II./JG 51 destroyed a RAF Spitfire over the beaches at Dunkirk.

GERMANY: RAF bombers attacked the German naval base at Kiel. RAF Bomber Command sends 80 aircraft to attack Berlin overnight.

Subhas Chandra Bose submits to German Foreign Ministry a proposal for overthrowing British rule in India and forging an Indian-German alliance.

NORTH AFRICA: Rommel orders Italian 27th "Brescia" Division and German 5.Leichte Division to surround Tobruk, realizing the urgency of attacking before the Allied defenses are organized. However, Australian 9th Division mans the outer defensive perimeter at Tobruk (originally created by the Italians) while a new inner defensive ring is built. Australian 7th Division is diverted from going to Greece, as planned; instead 18th Infantry Brigade is sent to assist at Tobruk while the remaining brigades are to defend Egypt. Gazala and Bomba bombarded by RN gunboats "Aphis" and "Gnat".

NORTH AMERICA: Danish ambassador to the United States Henrik Kauffmann signed an agreement with the US that made Greenland an American protectorate for the duration of the war. The agreement affirmed Greenland's loyalty to Denmark and agreed on the need for protection against attack by a non-American power. German reconnaissance flights had been made over Greenland, causing concern that Berlin might be able to establish bases on the Island to be used in attacking North America. The Danish minister in Washington arranged the agreement, but his action was disavowed by the government in Copenhagen. Kauffmann will become known as "the King of Greenland".

Battleship "North Carolina" (BB-55) is commissioned at New York Navy Yard, the first new U.S. Navy battleship to enter the fleet since "West Virginia" (BB-48) was commissioned in 1923.

The United States Army redesignates the Northeast Air District as the First Air Force. It is responsible for the northeastern United States.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-107 sank British ship "Harparthian" 400 miles northeast of Canary Islands at 0037 hours; 4 were killed, 39 survived.

German submarine U-98 sank Dutch ship "Prins Willem" II 200 miles southeast of Iceland at 0216 hours; 3 were killed, 22 survived in 2 lifeboats.

ASIA: Prince Hiroyasu stepped down as the chief of the Japanese Navy General Staff.

EASTERN EUROPE: The head of the Soviet Air Force Directorate Pavel Rychagov complained to Joseph Stalin that his pilots were flying in "coffins", referring to the poor condition of aircraft due to state neglect.

.

 

[parsifal]

09 APRIL 1941
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
North Carolina Class BB USS NORTH CAROLINA (BB-55)

Allied
Flower Class Corvette HMS ASTER (K-188)

HMS ASTER was transferred to the USN as USS INTENSITY (PG 93)

HDML 1033
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Shakespeare Class ASW Trawler HMS LAERTES (T-137)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Fairmile B ML 240
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Losses
U.107 sank steamer HARPATHIAN (UK 4671 grt) west of French Morrocco. She was part of the dispersed OG-57, and was on passage from Middles borough to Freetown. She had a crew of 43 when lost, of which 4 went missing. She was transporting RAF stores when lost. At 0037 hrs on 9 April 1941 the unescorted HARPATHIAN, was hit by two torpedoes from U-107 and sank SE of the Azores. Three crew members and one gunner were lost. The master, 36 crew members and two gunners landed at Hierro, Canary Islands. The Germans misidentified this ship as the British steam merchant MALANCHA.

U.98 sank steamer PRINS WILLEM II (NL 1304 grt), in the Nth Atlantic, SW of Iceland. She was a straggler from HX.117 when lost. She had a crew of 25 , of which 3 were lost, and was fully loaded with sugar and was travelling from Demerera (Haiti I think) to London via Halifax. At 0216 hrs the unescorted PRINS WILLEM II was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-98 and sank by the stern within three minutes. The ship was straggling from the HX-117 since the night of 7/8 April due to thick mist and heavy weather. Three crew members were lost. The survivors abandoned ship in both lifeboats and were questioned by the Germans, but this proved to be difficult due to the strong winds. They apparently misunderstood the name of the vessel and reported their victim as Dutch merchant WILLELMSPLEIN. The master and eleven men abandoned ship in the starboard lifeboat and rescued one man swimming in the water. They were picked up on 11 April by the Swedish MV KLIPPAREN which unsuccessfully searched for the other boat and eventually landed the survivors in Thorshavn, Faroe Islands. The port lifeboat was launched with seven men and rescued two more from the water. The occupants of this boat were rescued by TUSCAN STAR on 15 April and taken to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

U.107 sank tanker DUFFIELD (UK 8516 grt) west of Gibraltar. She was sailing independently and had a crew of 52, of which 25 were to lose their lives. She was fully loaded with fuel oil. At 1920 hrs the unescorted DUFFIELD was hit by two stern torpedoes from U-107 WSW of Madeira. The tanker caught fire, developed a list and stopped, but the flames went out after one minute and the crew managed to get her underway again at 12 knots. The U-boat had to work hard to overtake the fleeing ship for another attack and eventually hit the DUFFIELD amidships and in the bow with two G7e torpedoes at 0308 and 0330 hours, but only the fifth torpedo, detonated minutes later, hit the engine room and

Tanker LUNULA (UK 6363 grt) was badly damaged at Shellhaven jetty in Thames Haven on a mine. The LUNULA, as part of HX 114, departed Halifax on the 11th March 1941, destined for the Thames Haven refinery with a cargo of gasoline. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 30th, from where the vessels dispersed to their final destinations. The LUNULA arrived at Thames Haven on the 9th April 1941 and commenced to berth at No. 4 Jetty with the assistance of the tug PERSIA when it hit a mine dropped in an air raid the previous night and caught fire. The LUNULA continued to burn for 97 hrs, eventually settling its bow as well as its stern. Some reports intimate that unburned gasoline was recovered from the wreck after the fires were extinguished. 26 crew and two gunners were lost. The tanker was assessed to be a constructive total loss.

The LUNULA on fire, a member of the crew can be seen standing on the bow of the tanker. The tug PERSIA can be seen burning to the rear.

Tug PERSIA (UK 165 grt) assisted the steamer to shift berth. While assisting the steamer, the tug was damaged on a mine and driven ashore on Blyth Sand.
(see image above)
British Firefighting vessel QUEEN was sunk by the LW during the night of 9/10 April while in dock at Ipswich. The vessel was raised on the 12th.
Fire floats ALERT (UK 150 grt (est) and GRETA (UK 150 grt (est)) were badly damaged by the LW during the night of 9/10 April at Ipswich. Both were declared a total loss.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Motor lifeboat JOHN PYEMONT (RN 50 grt (est)) was sunk by the LW at Tynemouth when the Tynemouth boathouse was bombed.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Launch FALCON (UK 20 grt (est)) was sunk by the LW at Harwich.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Steamer DUDLEY ROSE (UK 1600 grt) was sunk by the LW 150 miles from Berry Head. The entire crew were rescued.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tkr BUESTEN (Nor 5187 grt) was sunk by the LW four miles 150° from Berry Head. 28of the crew were lost on the tanker.The BUESTEN was on passage from Texas, she was bombed by LW, Heinkel 111's, all their bombs missed due to heavy AA. The attackers did noty give up however , attacking again with machine guns and cannon which caused an explosion. whilst carrying a cargo of Benzene and Kerosene. Only 7 of the crew survived

UBOATS
Departures
Lorient: U-38

At Sea 09 April 1941
U-38, U-46, U-52, U-69, U-73, U-74, U-94, U-97 U-98, U-101, U-103, U-105, U-106, U-107, U-108, U-124, U-552

17 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
Aux MSW MARMION (RN 409 grt) was sunk by the LW alongside Harwich Pier. The MSW was beached on Harwich Hard on 10 May. She was refloated on 21 May and berthed at Harwich. She eventually was towed to Tilbury but the damaged was assessed as too extensive and she was scrapped.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Examination ship D'ARCY COOPER (UK 126 grt) was sunk by German bombing at Harwich. The skipper and two other ratings were lost.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
British tkr BRITISH WORKMAN in convoy EC.4 was damaged by the LW in the Nth Sea. The convoy was being escorted at the time by AA ship ALYNBANK and escort vessel GLEANER. The tanker arrived at Kirkwall on the 10th.
British tanker BRITISH STATESMAN was damaged by the LW in Barrow Deep off Harwich.

Northern Waters
DDs ELECTRA and ESCAPADE departed Scapa Flow to search for a Uboat reported to the westward of the Shetland Islands. The destroyers returned to Scapa Flow after finding nothing.

DDs BRIGHTON and LANCASTER, escorting ML AGAMEMNON, arrived at Scapa Flow en route to Rosyth. BRIGHTON and the ML departed Scapa Flow on the 10th. LANCASTER departed Scapa Flow on the 10th for Iceland.

CLA CURACOA departed Scapa Flow to provide cover for convoy WN.11 from Pentland Firth to Methil. The ship arrived at Rosyth on the 10th after which she proceeded to May Island for refitting.

British steamer PANDORIAN was damaged by the LW fifteen miles from Duncansby Head (far nth of Scotland).

West Coast
British steamer KYLEGORM was damaged by the LW at four miles 245° from St Ann's Head. The steamer was towed to Milford Haven by a tug.
British steamer ABERHILL was damaged by the LW off the west coast. The steamer arrived at Leith on the 11th.

Channel
Norwegian steamer BJORNVIK was damaged by the LW four miles 150° from Berry Head. (sth coast of Cornwall across the bay from Torquay). One crewman was killed. The steamer arrived at Dartmouth on the 9th leaking through damage caused by near miss. A delayed action bomb exploded after the ship arrived at Dartmouth.

Med/Biscay
CVL EAGLE departed Alexandria, escorted by DDs DECOY and ENCOUNTER, for Port Said in preparation to leaving the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. The carrier began moving through the Canal on the 11th.
Gunboats APHIS and GNAT bombarded Bomba during the nights of 9/10 and 10/11 April.
Italian supply convoy departed Naples with transports ANDREA GRITTI, SEBASTIANO VENIER, RIALTO, BIRMANIA, BARBARIGO escorted by DD DARDO and TBs CLIO, COSENZ, and PAPA, and arrived at Tripoli on the 11th.
Yugoslav DD BEOGRAD was badly damaged by the near misses by LW a/c at Sibenik.
Submarine UPHOLDER made two unsuccessful attacks on shipping off Cape Bon.
In British air operations from Maleme, a Swordfish of 815 Sqn ditched nth of Crete. Sub Lt (A) A. W. B. Drayson drowned attempting to swim ashore. T/Sub Lt (A) A. Carroll RNVR, and Leading Airman F. Faulks drifted ashore in a dingy after four days at sea.

Nth Atlantic
SC.28 departed Halifax, escort AMC CHITRAL. Submarine TALISMAN joined the escort on the 11th. BB ROYAL SOVEREIGN joined the convoy and was detached on the 20th along with submarine TALISMAN. The submarine arrived back at Halifax on the 26th. The AMC was detached on the 21st. On the 24th, DD SCIMITAR, corvettes DIANTHUS, MALLOW, MARIGOLD, NASTURTIUM, PERIWINKLE, and PRIMROSE, and MSWs BRAMBLE, HAZARD, and SPEEDY joined the convoy. The MSWs departed that day. On the 26th, corvette MALLOW was detached. Destroyer WANDERER joined on the 27th. The escort was detached when the convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 28th.

Central Atlantic
Ocean boarding vessels MALVERNIAN and CAMITO arrived at Gibraltar from Western Patrol. Corvettes ERICA and SNAPDRAGON departed Gibraltar for Freetown en route to Simonstown and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Steamer CRAFTSMAN (UK 8022 grt) was sunk by German raider KORMORAN in the Central Atlantic. Six crew were lost and forty three were taken prisoner.

SL.71 departed Freetown escorted by AMC CILICIA that day only and corvettes CLEMATIS, CROCUS, CYCLAMEN, and CLEMATIS to 17 April. On the 10th, CL MAURITIUS joined the convoy to 23 April. MAURITIUS was relieved on the 23rd by CA LONDON which continued to 29 April. On the 28th, DDs LEAMINGTON, LINCOLN, and SHERWOOD and ocean boarding vessel MALVERNIAN joined the convoy to 4 May. On the 30th, DDs ROCKINGHAM to 2 May, VANQUISHER to 5 May, and VISCOUNT to 2 May, sloop LONDONDERRY to 5 May, and corvettes FREESIA, HIBISCUS, and PIMPERNEL all to 5 May, and ASW yacht PHILANTE to 5 May joined the convoy. The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 5 May.

Malta
Malta completes the installation of 4 x GL-4 Gunnery radar sets, to significantly improve the accuracy of the AA defences on the island
AIR RAIDS DAWN 9 APRIL TO DAWN 10 APRIL 1941
Weather Fine.
1027-1048 hrs Air raid alert for a single JU 88 which approaches the Island but does not cross the coast.
OPERATIONS REPORTS WEDNESDAY 9 APRIL 1941
ROYAL NAVY As a result of information of the movement of German troop and supply convoys sailing for Tripoli, all available submarines were sailed to take up positions on the convoy route between Cape Bon, Kuriat, Kerkenah, Tripoli.
AIR HQ
69 Sqn Maryland reconnaissance eastern Tunisian coast for enemy shipping.
Cyrenaica
With the capture of Mechili by Rommel, he was now in a position to press on with the capture of Tobruk. It was vital to both sides in fact. Despite much of his forces still not being concentrated, Rommel was uncompromising that its capture was an absolute priority.

Whilst most of 5th Light was arriving via the inland route, and continuing to press forward to close the ring around Tobruk by pushing through to the sea, the coastal advance built around 27th Brescia Infantry Division with some German mobile elements to support it. Kampfgruppen under Schwerin and Olbrich were also pressed almost directly north from Mechili to assist the left flank of the encirclement. Much further back, at Tripoli, the lead elements of 15 Pz XX were landed and lost no time organizing their transfer by road transport via the coast road, the Via Balbia.

Late on the 8 April, Rommel reached the sea only hours after the retreating Australians, now reduced to just 3 companies in the rearguard. The remnants of 2nd Armoured XX, mostly the support group and the tank-less personnel of 3rd Armoured Bde had managed to extricate themselves from the town passing through the intact Australian poitions toward the relative safety of Tobruk. The small numbers of Australians meant that this escape route could not be held open for long, and large amounts equipment and support non-combatant personnel were bagged by the Axis forces on the 8th and 9th.

Ponath, a German soldier in the 5th lt scribbled in his diary on the night of the 8/9th "Unit continues advancing through the night. Small numbers of PoWs mostly unarmed support personnel keep arriving. A LW a/c arrives with the mail, continaing orders to push on to Tobruk."

Details of the strength and disposition of the defences at Tobruk remained obscure for the Germans at this point. Their forces were running on adrenalin and not much else, but they were supremely confident that day. Rommel received erroneous reports that a Dunkirk style evacuation was underway. Coupled with Rommels personal character it was no surprise that the initial German plan would rely almost completely on speed and surprise . This was in stark contrast to the measured and detailed preparations being organized by Moreshead within the city.

 

[Njaco]

April 10 Thursday
GERMANY: British bombers hit Berlin in an attack which brought the war home with devastating impact. The Wellingtons gutted the State Opera House and caused extensive damage along Unter den Linden. The Opera House would be restored by 1943, but would again be bombed in Feb 1945. RAF Bomber Command sends 29 aircraft to attack Dusseldorf overnight. The first Luftwaffe night victory over Allied four-engined bombers was made when the night fighter version of the Bf 110C with nose mounted cannon, destroyed a RAF Short Stirling. Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weißenfeld shot down a British Wellington bomber shortly after 0000 hours over the IJsselmeer in the Netherlands.

Hitler confronts Goering about lack of defenses against RAF bombing campaign and then departs for his Fruhlingssturm headquarters south of Vienna.

The Germany Navy, Kriegsmarine, ordered the construction of 60 submarines.

MEDITERRANEAN: Unternehmen 25/ Unternehmen Marita: German 14.Panzerdivision captured the Croatian capital of Zagreb. Ustasa leader Col. Slavko Kvaternik declares independence of Croatia from Yugoslavia. Croatian Fascist chief Ante Pavelic returned from exile to proclaim the independent state of Croatia. Tito, Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, forms Military Committee. All of southern Serbia was now under control of the German 12.Armee. The German 2.Armee began its main advance in Greece. 9.Panzerdivision and Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Regiment moved through the Monastir Gap, across the Greek border, and captured the town of Florina. Sepp Dietrich's German Motorized Regiment Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler captured Monastir. Allied defenders held off the German XL Corps which was sweeping down from Yugoslavia along the Aliakmon River. In Greece, first contact was made between German spearheads and detachments of British W Force. New Zealand 4th Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Brigade, and 6th Infantry Brigade fell back from the Aliakmon Line southwest of Salonika, Greece.

Luftflotte IV halts most of the air missions over Yugoslavia and concentrates on the skies over Greece.

Italian supply convoy departs Palermo for Tripoli with four vessels escorted by three torpedo boats as an earlier Italian supply convoy arrives at Tripoli from Naples.

NORTH AFRICA: Siege of Tobruk, Libya, begins. General Rommel announced his conviction that the British were collapsing and must be vigorously pursued. He let it be known that his objective was now the Suez Canal. He decided to prevent the British from breaking out of Tobruk. Rommel orders probing attacks on the defenses at Tobruk but they are turned back by Australian infantry and British artillery. Australian 9th Infantry Division withdraws into Tobruk and General Morshead was appointed Tobruk Fortress Commander. The British 22nd Guards Brigade began deploying at Halfaya Pass. General von Prittwitz, commander of 15.Panzerdivision (which will soon come from Italy to join the Afrika Korps), has been flown to Libya with an advanced party of 3500 troops as reinforcements. Prittwitz was killed while personally leading a reconnaissance mission by armored cars hit by anti-tank fire on the Tobruk perimeter. German fighters based at Ain El Gazala, only eight miles from the seaport, escort Ju 87 Stukas from II./StG 2 in their bombing raids on the British defenses.

Although most of Italian Somaliland, Ethiopia and Eritrea is in British hands, pockets of Italian resistance still hold out (Assab in Eritrea; in Ethiopia, Amba Alagi in the North, Jimma in the South and Gondar in the West). Nigerian troops of the British 11th African Division moving Southwest down the road from Addis Ababa towards the Italian stronghold at Jimma reach the Omo River crossing at Abalti, to find the bridge blown and Italian troops dug in on the far side. In Eritrea, 5th Indian Division moves back from Massawa to Amara to pursue the Italians South to Amba Alagi in Ethiopia. Italians anticipate the arrival of British forces at Assab and seek to deny them use of the port facilities, scuttling 7 freighters to prevent capture.

WESTERN FRONT: Overnight, 53 RAF aircraft attacked German battlecruisers in Brest, France. British bombers scored four hits on the battle cruiser "Gneisenau" in Brest harbor, putting it out of action for several months. The "Scharnhorst" is also in the port undergoing engine repairs. Neither battle cruiser will be able to join the "Bismarck" in its cruise in May.

NORTH AMERICA: President Roosevelt, equating the defense of the United Kingdom to the defense of the United States, authorizes, under Lend-Lease, the transfer of 10 "Lake"-class Coast Guard cutters to the Royal Navy. Coast Guardsmen will train the British crews in the waters of Long Island Sound between 30 Apr and 30 May 1941.

ASIA: Military and conservative factions in Japan gained greater influence in a cabinet reshuffle. Musatsume Ogura, Admiral Teijiro Toyoda, and Lieutenant General Teichi Suzuki, all considered pro-expansion, were added to the cabinet. In another move strengthening the "war Hawk" point of view, Admiral Osami Nagano replaced Prince Hiroyasu Fushimi as chief of the Naval Staff. Seiichi Ito was named the chief of staff of the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet. Teichi Yoshimoto was named the chief of staff of Kenkichi Ueda (Japanese Kwantung Army in northeastern China).

The Imperial Japanese Navy formed the First Air Fleet (Dai-ichi KōKū Kantai) consisting of all seven of Japan's aircraft fleet carriers and light carriers with a total of 474 aircraft. This was a naval battle group with the single most powerful concentration of naval aviation in the world. The large fleet carriers had three types of aircraft; fighters, level/torpedo bombers, and dive bombers. The smaller carriers had two types of aircraft, fighters and torpedo bombers. The carrier-based kokutai was staffed with 1500 pilots and over 1500 aircraft.

IJN "Kaga" was assigned to Carrier Division 1 of the new Japanese Navy First Air Fleet. IJN "Akagi" became the flagship of the newly organized First Air Fleet and also assigned to Carrier Division 1. She spent the next few weeks in and around Yokosuka, Japan and off Kyushu. Chuichi Nagumo was named the commanding officer of the First Air Fleet.

The Imperial General Headquarters ordered the Kwantung Army to place its 32nd and 83rd Sentais under the command of the China Expeditionary Army commander for the duration of the upcoming Chungyuan Operation (7 May – 15 June 1941).

UNITED KINGDOM: 206 Luftwaffe aircraft attacked Birmingham, England, dropping 246 tons of high explosive bombs and 1,183 incendiary bombs.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U- 107 sank British tanker 'Duffield' at 0345 hours; 25 were killed, 28 survived.

German submarine U-52 sank Dutch ship 'Saleier' 500 miles southwest of Iceland at 1955 hours. The entire crew of 63 abandoned ship in 3 lifeboats and were rescued by American destroyer USS 'Niblack'. USS 'Niblack' then attacked a German submarine. The submarine escaped without being damaged. It was the first shot fired between the US and Germany.

PACIFIC OCEAN: Heavy cruisers "Chicago" (CA-29) and "Portland" (CA-33) and destroyers "Clark" (DD-361), "Conyngham" (DD-371), "Reid" (DD-369), "Cassin" (DD-372) and "Downes" (DD-375) arrive at Pearl Harbor, thus winding up the Australia-New Zealand good-will cruise.

.

 

[Njaco]

April 11 Friday
UNITED KINGDOM: 153 Luftwaffe aircraft from the combined fleets of Luftflotte 2 and 3 bombed Bristol, England. It was nicknamed the "Good Friday Raid". The Gruppen from Luftflotte 3 involved in attacking Avonmouth and Portishead were nine He 111s from I./KG 27, fifteen He 111s from II./KG 27, fifteen He 111s from III./KG 27 who lost a bomber over Lydlinch in Dorset and fourteen He 111s from KGr 100. Over the Bristol docks were sent ten Ju 88s of II./KG 1, six Ju 88s of III./KG 1, eight He 111s of III./KG 26, seventeen Ju 88s of I./KG 54, fourteen Ju 88s of II./KG 54, eight Ju 88s of KGr 806, one Heinkel from the Stab./KG 55, seventeen He 111s of I./KG 55, nine He 111s of II./KG 55 and seventeen He 111s of III./KG 55. Seven He 111s were shot down by Hurricanes from RAF No 151 Squadron and crashed either on English soil or the Channel. Losing a bomber each to the RAF were III./KG 1, III./KG 26, II./KG 54 and III./KG 55 who lost four Heinkels including a He 111 from 8./KG 55 that crashed in the sea off of France due to engine failure. The effort from Luftflotte 2 consisted of fifteen He 111s from I. and II./KG 53 that attacked Bristol shortly after 2200 hours. The city's docks, St Philip's Bridge, and residential areas were damaged. The city tramways power supply line was destroyed by a bomb that hit St Philip's Bridge. It was decided that the damage was too severe to repair and all the tram cars were soon to be scrapped for the war effort. The final tram from Old Market to Kingswood was given a push by passers-by and freewheeled its way into the depot. Trams will never run in Bristol again and none of the tram cars were preserved for historical purposes. A memorial to the system is a length of tram track still embedded in St Mary Redcliffe churchyard, where it was blown by a bomb.

A Junkers Ju 88A-5 from 3(F)/122 was shot down by Sergeant Casey and Sergeant Prytherch in Spitfires of RAF No 72 Squadron during a reconnaissance of Newcastle. Crashed at Alnmouth, Northumberland at 1940 hours.

An air attack on Bridlington where eighteen HEs caused extensive damage and killed two people, a forty-seven year old man at Lloyd Hospital and a two year old boy at New Burlington Road.

MEDITERRANEAN: Unternehmen 25/ Unternehmen Marita: German troops continue moving south from the Monastir Gap into Northern Greece, capturing the town of Vevi. The Italian Second Army, led by General Ambrosio, begins a cautious advance from the Triest area toward Ljubljana but Weich's forces arrive there first. Other Italian units begin to advance south along the Dalmatian coast. The German 12th Corps begins to advance over the Romanian border toward Belgrade. The Hungarians also join in with an advance from the Szeged are toward Novi Sad. They are held up more by resistance from Yugoslav civilians than by the Yugoslav army. In the evening, British and ANZAC forces have their first engagement with German troops in Greece, when a combined force of 2 Australian battalions and British 1st Armoured Brigade stops Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler Regiment at Klidi Pass, just South of Vevi.

Fighters from the newly returned 7./JG 26 bounce a flight of eight Hurricanes and shoot down three of the British fighters with claims going to Oblt. Müncheberg and Oblt. Mietusch.

Italian forces redoubled their efforts to link up with units in Albania.

The lack of air defense over the Balkans and the need for a buildup of air units for Rommel in North Africa forces the aircrews of I./JG 27 under Major Eduard Neumann to move from Graz to Munich in southern Germany in preparation for a transfer to North Africa. Leaving their Bf 109Es to Luftflotte 4 units, the Gruppe receives new Bf 109F 'Freidrichs' while in Germany.

Destroyers HMS "Jervis", HMS "Janus", HMS "Nubian", and HMS "Mohawk" of the British 14th Destroyer Flotilla arrived in Malta to act as a night striking force.

Axis Convoy departs for Tripoli with five vessels escorted by Italian destroyers "Vivaldi", "Da Noli", "Mirabello", and "Dardo".

NORTH AFRICA: First Siege of Tobruk: Rommel's forces arrived at Tobruk in great strength. The isolation of Tobruk is now complete, all the remainder of the Allied force having retreated to the Egyptian border. Erwin Rommel performed a flanking movement, cutting the road east of Bardia at 1300 hours. All day, German tanks and armored cars probed the perimeter in several places hoping to exploit gaps but British and Australians had been strengthening the defenses since occupying the town in January. All the German thrust were repelled. British (1st Royal Tank Regiment) and German tanks exchanged fire at long range. On the same day, German aircraft bombed Tobruk harbor, damaging British ship "Draco".

NORTH AMERICA: George Patton was made the commanding officer of the 2nd Armored Division.

US President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed that the Red Sea was to be no longer considered as a war zone so as to enable it to be used by American shipping. Roosevelt tells Churchill that the US Navy will extend the American Defense Zone up to the line of 26 degrees West.

President Roosevelt creates the Office of Price Administrations under the direction of Leon Henderson. It is given the task of controlling prices and profits and balancing civilian and defense needs. This bureau will play an important part in holding back many increases in prices and containing inflation despite the pressures that will develop in the war economy.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-124 sank Greek ship "Aegeon" 200 miles southwest of Freetown, Sierra Leone, British West Africa at 2100 hours; 4 were killed, 27 survived.

U.S. begins neutrality patrols in the Atlantic. Neutrality patrols were created ostensibly to protect neutral shipping rights in the western Atlantic but also to give American naval commanders vital experience should the United States enter the war.

GERMANY: German armored train 'Atlas' arrived at Mönichkirchen, Germany (occupied Austria) to prepare the village for Adolf Hitler's arrival on the following day.

Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini concluded their four-day meeting at Salzburg in occupied Austria, during which Hitler convinced Mussolini to remain in the war.

French Lieutenant Alain le Ray became the first Allied serviceman to escape from Colditz Castle, site of the prisoner of war camp Oflag IV-C, in Germany.

WESTERN FRONT: RAF Fighter Command conducts Rhubarb operations as RAF Bomber Command sends 20 aircraft to attack coastal targets.

ASIA: Soviet Ambassador Panyushkin assures Chiang Kai-shek Moscow will not abandon support of China in order to pander to Japan.

.

 

[parsifal]

10 APRIL 1941
Known Reinforcements
Axis
Type VIIC U-401
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
Sunk on 3 August 1941 in the North Atlantic south-west of Ireland, in position 50.30N, 19.35W, by depth charges from the British corvette HMS HYDRANGEA . 45 dead (all hands lost).

Type VIIC U-565
[NO IMAGE FOUND]
3 ships sunk, total tonnage 11,347 GRT, 2 warships sunk, total tonnage 6,990 tons
Scuttled on 30 September 1944 with three depth charges in the Skaramanga Bay, in position 37.59N, 23.34E, after being badly damaged by bombs during US air raids (15th AF) in Salamis on 19 and 24 September 1944. 5 dead, unknown number of survivors.

Allied
Fairmile B Ml 161
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Thornycroft 75' type MTB 49

Losses
U.52 sank steamer SALEIER (NL 6563 grt), from dispersed convoy OB.306, in the Nth Atlantic. The ship was on passage from Loch Ewe to Port Said, fully loaded with Coal and with a crew of 63. The entire crew was rescued by USN DD NIBLACK, en route to Iceland. ORP DDs GARLAND and PIORUN had been searching for the crew as well. before returning to Reykjavik. After rescuing the crew, the US DD attacked a submarine contact, on the grounds of self defence, and also on the grounds of what the USN believed were international waters outside a war zone.

UBOATS
Departures
Kiel: U 75
Lorient: U-123

At Sea 10 April 1941
U-38, U-52, U-69, U-73, U-74, U-75, U-94, U-98, U-101, U-103, U-105, U-106, U-107, U-108, U-123, U-124, U-552

17 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
CLA NAIAD, under repair in the Tyne, was damaged by the near miss from the LW causing superficial splinter damage and some shock damage to her turbine mountings.

Northern Patrol
The British DS convoy series began with convoy DS.1 of troopships ROYAL ULSTERMAN and ROYAL SCOTSMAN departing the Clyde, escort DDs ST MARYS and LANCASTER. The convoy arrived at Reykjavik on the 12th.

The return convoy SD.1 departed Iceland on the 14th with the same escorts. The convoy arrived in the Clyde on the 16th.

Northern Waters
DD SOMALI, began repairs to her boilers alongside depot ship TYNE at Scapa Flow. DD BROCKLESBY arrived at Scapa Flow to carry out work up.

BB KG V and DDs SOMALI and MASHONA arrived at Scapa Flow that evening.
Escorting DD MATABELE had been detached en route to refit at Barrow, arriving on the 11th.

BB RESOLUTION, AMC DERBYSHIRE, and ORP DDs PIORUN and GARLAND departed Hvalfjord for Canada. CA NORFOLK departed Hvalfjord to meet HX.119.
CL AURORA, escorting ML AGAMEMNON, departed Scapa Flow to refit at the Tyne.

British steamer THIRLBY was damaged by LW attacks 140 miles NNW of Butt of Lewis. DD BEDOUIN was sent to assist, but could not locate the steamer. ASW trawler LADY MADELEINE escorted tug BRIGAND to assist the steamer. The steamer arrived at Loch Ewe on the 11th.

West Coast
Dutch steamer VIRGO was damaged by the LW five miles NW of Bar Light Vessel. The steamer was towed to Liverpool.

Channel
British steamer BUSIRIS was damaged by the LW off Mounts Bay in Cornwall.

DKM BC GNEISENAU was struck by four bombs and was badly damaged at Brest.
Due to the damage of the DKM BCs, submarines TORBAY, TAKU, UNBEATEN, UNION, UNDAUNTED, URGE, and CACHALOT were sent on to the Mediterranean when relieved by the 6th Submarine Flotilla, transferred from Blyth.

Med/Biscay
DDs JERVIS, JANUS, MOHAWK, and NUBIAN departed Suda Bay for Malta to conduct raiding operations on Italian supply lines.

CLs AJAX and RAN PERTH departed Alexandria to cover their passage during the night of 10/11 April. DDs JERVIS, JANUS, MOHAWK, and NUBIAN arrived at Malta at daylight on the 11th.

AJAX and PERTH called at Salamis on the 11th. The cruisers then refuelled at Suda Bay before returning to patrol in the Aegean to cover convoys AG.12 and AS.25.

British troopship GLENROY, escorted by DDs DECOY and ENCOUNTER, departed Port Said to reembark troops recently landed at Lemnos by British supply ship BRECONSHIRE. On the 11th, troopship GLENROY and destroyers DECOY and ENCOUNTER arrived at Alexandria. CLA COVENTRY left convoy AS.25 on the 11th to join this force.
Convoy AG.12 of one British ship departed Alexandria escorted by CLA r CARLISLE, DD HEREWARD, and sloops FLAMINGO and AUCKLAND, and arrived at Phaleron Bay on the 12th. The escort remained at Salamis.

AS.25 of five Greek ships departed Piraeus escort DD WRYNECK and sloop GRIMSBY. CLA COVENTRY sailed to accompany this convoy for the first part of the voyage, then departed on the 11th to escort troopship GLENROY. CLA CALCUTTA joined the convoy from Suda Bay on the 11th. Damaged oiler PERICLES joined this convoy from Suda Bay for passage to Alexandria.

RFA PERICLES (RN 8324 grt) broke in half in heavy weather. Sloop GRIMSBY took off the crew and stood by while destroyer KIMBERLEY was sent to her assistance. DD KIMBERLEY sank the stern section of the tanker with gunfire, and arrived at Alexandria on the 14th

PERICLES at Suda just prior to her loss
DD WRYNECK escorted the Port Said section. DD KIMBERLEY and sloop GRIMSBY arrived at Alexandria on the 15th.

MSW ABINGDON was damaged by mining at Malta. She was under repair until June. British troopship ULSTER PRINCE grounded in Great Pass at Alexandria. The troopship was gotten off without serious damage, but docking was required.

Italian supply convoy of steamers BOSFORO and OGADEN and tankers PERSIANO and SUPERGA departed Palermo escorted by TBs MISSORI, and MONTANARI. The convoy was attacked off Cape Bon by submarine UPHOLDER on the 11th with no success. However, Submarine TETRARCH sank tkr PERSIANO (FI 2474 grt), thirty miles NE of Tripoli on the 12th. The remainder of the convoy arrived at Tripoli later that day.

PERSIANO as she was sinking taken the morning of her loss

Nth Atlantic
HX.120 departed Halifax, escort corvettes COBALT and COLLINGWOOD. The corvettes were detached later that day. BB ROYAL SOVEREIGN and AMC LACONIA joined the convoy on the 12th. AMC CHITRAL joined on the 19th. The BB was detached on the 20th and the two AMCs were detached on the 21st. DDs BULLDOG and WALKER joined on the 21st and MSWs NIGER and SPEEDWELL joined on the 22nd. BULLDOG was detached on the 24th. WALKER arrived with the convoy at Liverpool on the 29th.

Canadian troop convoy TC.10 of troopships GEORGIC and BATORY departed Halifax. BB RODNEY escorted the convoy for the entire voyage. RCN DD ST CROIX escorted the convoy on 10 and 11 April. On the 15th, DDs HESPERUS, LEGION, and LEOPARD joined the convoy. LEOPARD was detached the next day. On the 16th, DDs ACTIVE, ECHO, GARLAND, and PIORUN, departed Iceland on the 14th, joined the convoy. DDs ECHO and ACTIVE arrived at Scapa Flow on the 18th, and arrived at Greenock on the 19th with BB RODNEY and DDs HESPERUS, LEGION, GARLAND, and PIORUN.
Central Atlantic
Ocean boarding vessel MALVERNIAN departed Gibraltar on Western Patrol.

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
Steamer INDIA (FI 6366 grt) was scuttled at Assab. The steamer was later salved.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer PIAVE (FI 7565 grt) was scuttled at Assab. The steamer was later salved.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer SANNIO (FI 9834 grt) was scuttled at Assab. The steamer was later salved.

Coastal steamer SCILLIN (FI 57 grt) was scuttled at Assab.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Coastal steamer CIRCEO (FI 59 grt) was scuttled at Assab.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Coastal steamer DANTE (FI 80 grt) was scuttled at Assab.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Coastal steamer SICILIA II (FI 64 grt) was scuttled at Assab.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 10 APRIL TO DAWN 11 APRIL 1941
Weather Fine.
1230-1320 hrs Air raid alert for two enemy aircraft which cross Gozo from north to south and then from south to north over Hal Far and San Rocco. Malta fighters are scrambled and anti-aircraft guns engage; no engagement.
1517-1530 hrs Air raid alert for six enemy aircraft approaching the Island from the north. They circle to the west and north of the Island before moving away northwards. Nine Hurricanes are scrambled; no engagement reported.
1554 hrsAir raid alert; raid does not materialise.
OPERATIONS REPORTS THURSDAY 10 APRIL 1941
ROYAL NAVY One southbound convoy located by air reconnaissance. 830 Squadron despatched after dark but failed to intercept.
AIR HQArrivals1 Sunderland.69 SquadronMaryland reconnaissance Tripoli Harbour: 8 destroyers, 12 plus merchant vessels. Maryland reconnaissance Palermo Harbour: 2 cruisers, 5 destroyers, 14 merchant vessels. Maryland reconnaissance between Malta and eastern Tunisian coast for enemy shipping sighted convoy; 830 Squadron being despatched for torpedo attack.
HAL FAR PM Operational flight by 8 aircraft 830 Squadron, target Tripoli; all returned safely.
KALAFRANA Sunderland arrived from Middle East with freight.
Cyrenaica
Ponaths advance elements approaching the outer defences of the Red Line were pulled up short 11 miles short of the township by the long range artillery fire from the 51st British Hvy Artillery Regt, and later by the direct firing of Australian manned ATGs, some of which were captured Italian 47mm Bohler guns.. Another officer, Prittwitz diving in a Kubelwagen was killed at milestone 13 by a direct hit. From artillery fire. The Australian guns were obviously ranged and fire was deadly. Prittwitz was killed instantly. Streich, another regimental commander under Rommel's command was furious with Rommel, because he regarded Prittwitz's death as toitally unnecessary and firmly because of Rommels over confindence.

The forward defences were under the commend of Captain Vernon Northwood of A Company, 2/28 Bn. He watched the rash advance of the forward elements of the german attack fromhis forward command post, and had given orders for the Australian guns to commence firing as soon as the range was found for the advancing targets. The Australians displayed none of the usual fear normally afforded to the German Panzer waffe truppen. Several Australians were wounded by German return fire, and their comrades had to endure their screams for the entire day until the cover of night allowed their safe evacuation.

It was at about this time that the logistic sums facing Rommel began to be nutted out. Rommels supply was dependant upon a single seal road, stretch 1875 miles back to Tripoli. Once it was operational Benghazi could assist in the transfer of supplies to Rommels command. But between them, Tripoli and Benghazi could allow a maximum of 75000 tons of supplies to pass, with the minor ports adding a further 5000 to that total. Tobruk could add a nother 25000 tons a month to that figure, moreover its closeness to the front made it a critical piece of real estate to control. Rommels minimum supply needs by the end of the year were just over 70000 tons a month under normal combat conditions, and with an army of 7 divs under his command. To take Alexandria, Rommel needed to capture Tobruk.

"Gunners" (in reality Infantry) of the 2/28 manhandle a captured Italian 149mm gun just behind the sw sector of the Red line where the Germans made their initial contact

 

[parsifal]

11 APRIL 1941
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Type II Escort DD HMS BLANKNEY (L-30)

HDML 1049
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Fairmile B ML 213
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

MMS I Class MSW No 11
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Losses
Boom defence vessel OTHELLO (RN 201 grt) and Boom tender YORKSHIRE BELLE (RN 56 grt) were sunk on mines at the entrance to the Humber. 15 of the crew from the two ship were lost.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

U.124 sank steamer AEGEON (Gk 5285 grt) off the coast of Sierra Leone. The ships was fully laden with wheat and on passage from Buenos Aires via Freetown.. Four crew were lost when the steamer was sunk. At 2059 hrs the unescorted AEGEON was hit in the engine room by one torpedo from U-124 about 170 miles WSW of Freetown. The ship sank by the stern at 2135 hrs, shortly after the U-boat surfaced and left without questioning the survivors because the ALCINOUS had been sighted. The crew had managed to send a distress signal before they abandoned ship and HMS WISHARTwas redirected to their position, but the destroyer found no trace of wreckage or lifeboats during a short search of the area the next morning and had to return to Freetown as she was low on fuel. The survivors were picked up by the British motor merchant SHEAF HOLM landed at Freetown on 14 April.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Lorient: U-69
St Nazaire: U74

At Sea 11 April 1941
U-38, U-52, U-73, U-75, U-94, U-98, U-101, U-103, U-105, U-106, U-107, U-108, U-123, U-124, U-552

17 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Northern Waters
DD MANSFIELD with a Norwegian crew departed Lerwick on the 8th. She carried commandoes to Hammerfest, near North Cape, to destroy a fish oil factory at Oksfjord on 11/12 April. The DD arrived back on the 14th

West Coast
DD MANSFIELD with a Norwegian crew departed Lerwick on the 8th. She carried commandoes to Hammerfest, near North Cape, to destroy a fish oil factory at Oksfjord on 11/12 April. The DD arrived back on the 14th

Med/Biscay
DD GREYHOUND departed Alexandria escorting netlayer PROTECTOR and ASW trawlers SYVERN and KOS 23 for Suda Bay. They were joined at sea by corvette SALVIA and Sth African (SA) MSW MUROTO for Piraeus. The corvette and the SA MSW were to assist corvette HYACINTH in clearing Piraeus harbour. Both sections arrived on the 14th.

CL ORION with RAN DD STUART, EN DDs GRIFFIN, JUNO, JAGUAR, and HASTY departed Alexandria at 2000 to join CLs AJAX and RAN PERTH for an offensive sweep along the Cyrenaican coast eastwards from Benghazi during the night of 12/13 April in Operation MBD.3.

Gunboats APHIS and GNAT bombarded Bomba during the night of 10/11 April. The gunboats bombarded the same district and the Gazala airdrome during the night of 11/12 April.

RAN DDs WATERHEN and VENDETTA arrived at Alexandria at 0400 with British steamer THURLAND CASTLE carrying captured tanks from Tobruk. The DDs departed Alexandria again that day with another supply ship for Tobruk.

DDs JERVIS, JANUS, MOHAWK, and NUBIAN arrived at Malta from Suda Bay. They immediately refuelled and sailed to intercept the southbound convoy of steamers BOSFORO, OGADEN, PERSIANA, and SUPERGA, escorted by TBs MONTANARI, MISSORI, and PERSEO between Lampione Island and Kerkenah Bank. They failed to intercept a subsequent message from submarine UNIQUE which corrected the speed of the convoy. No contact was made and the destroyers returned to Malta.

During the night of 11/12 April, Greek cruiser AVEROFF departed the Gulf of Saronikos and proceeded unescorted to Alexandria. No escorts could be spared for this unit.

The AVEROF is a floating museum in Athens harbour today

Cable ship RETRIEVER (674grt) was sunk by the LW one mile 264° from Aliki Rocks, off Phleva Island, Greece. Eleven crew were lost and six were taken prisoner. 29 crew were rescued.

Hospital ship ATTIKI (Gk 2561 grt) was sunk by German bombing in Doro Channel.
Twenty eight crew were missing.

Steamer DRACO (UK 2018 grt) was badly damaged by the LW at Tobruk and beached. The steamer was bombed again on the 21st and was a total loss. The gunner was killed, but rest of the crew were rescued.

Central Atlantic
DD BOREAS arrived at Gibraltar with British steamer GLENARTNEY

Red Sea/Indian Ocean
RAN CA AUSTRALIA had departed Colombo on 24 March with two empty troopships for convoy US.10 back to Australia. On the 7th, AUSTRALIA and CLs ACHILLES and HOBART departed Wellington with two liners for Australia to sail in the convoy. NZ manned CL ACHILLES departed Jervis Bay, NSW. with liner QUEEN MARY on the 11th to join convoy US.10 at Sydney. This convoy was composed of QUEEN MARY, QUEEN ELIZABETH, ILE DE FRANCE, MAURETANIA, and NIEUW AMSTERDAM. On the 12th, ACHILLES and AUSTRALIA were detached from the convoy for patrol. They then proceeded to Sydney to refuel. The NZ manned CL then returned to New Zealand. Liner NIEUW AMSTERDAM was detached to Singapore. The troops from this liner were embarked on troopship AQUITANIA which departed Singapore on the 27th, escorted by CL DANAE. Troopship AQUITANIA arrived at Colombo on 1 May. On the 27th, convoy US.10A departed Trincomalee with liners QUEEN ELIZABETH and QUEEN MARY, escorted as far as Perim by RAN CA CANBERRA, arriving on 1 May, and arrived at Suez on 3 May, escorted by RAN sloop PARRAMATTA. On 6 May, convoy US.10B departed Colombo for Suez with liners AQUITANIA, ILE DE FRANCE, and MAURETANIA.

NZ manned CL LEANDER departed Madras with a convoy for Singapore. The convoy was turned over to light cruiser CERES on the 12th. The cruiser proceeded to Trincomalee arriving on the 13th. She then proceeded on to Colombo arriving on the 14th.

Convoy BM.6 departed Madras for Malaya with steamers TALMA, SANTHIA, NEURALIA, and DEVONSHIRE, escorted by NZ manned CL LEANDER to 12 April when CL DANE relieved her.

Steamers JALAPADMA and JALAKRISHNA departed Madras on the 12th, unescorted, with vehicles and stores for the troops being carried in convoy BM.6, and arrived at Penang on the 16th.

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 11 APRIL TO DAWN 12 APRIL 1941

Weather Fine.

0648-0720 hrs Air raid alert; raid does not materialise.

0935-1020 hrsAir raid alert for seven Italian CR 42 fighters, followed by a second plot of six, which carry out reconnaissance. Hurricane fighters are scrambled and engage the raiders north of Malta. Two CR 42s are probably shot down.

1125-1155 hrsAir raid alert for twelve Messerschmitt fighters and one JU 88 which carry out an offensive patrol over the Island. Heavy and Light anti-aircraft guns engage and eight Hurricanes are scrambled. One ME 109 and one ME 110 are confirmed shot down, the JU 88 is probably shot down. Hurricanes flown by F/O P Kennett and Sgt P Waghorn are shot down into the sea by enemy raiders. P/O Kennett is spotted offshore and the rescue launch heads for the spot but he is found dead. Sgt Waghorn's plane is seen to go down near St Paul's Bay; he does not survive. Both pilots arrived in Malta just eight days ago with Operation Winch.

Sgt A H Deacon's Hurricane is badly damaged in a dogfight with a ME 109; he heads for Ta Qali but cannot land as anti-aircraft guns are still in action against enemy aircraft. Deacon flies on to Hal Far and is able to land but his undercarriage collapses and he is slightly injured. P/O Mortimer's Hurricane is also badly damaged in combat; he also has to divert to Hal Far where his aircraft lands awkwardly, causing him some injuries.

2156-2247 hrsAir raid alert for nine JU 87 Stuka bombers which approach the Island at 4-6000 feet singly and in pairs, and carry out a bombing raid on Mgarr, Siggiewi, Mdina and Ta Qali aerodrome. Several civilian houses are damaged at Siggiewi. At Mgarr three houses are destroyed in St Peter's Street and 15 badly damaged in Fisher Street. Five civilians are killed and seven injured – three seriously. No damage is caused on the airfield. Some of the raiders are illuminated by searchlights and Malta fighters are scrambled. One JU 87 is shot down near Il Maghtab church by ground defences: 2ndBn Royal Irish Fusiliers are believed to have shot it down with small arms fire. One JU 87 is probably shot down by fighters.

Military casualties Pilot Officer Peter Kennett, Royal Air Force (VR), 261 Squadron. Sergeant Peter Harry Waghorn, Pilot, Royal Air Force (VR), 261 Squadron.

Civilian casualties Gharghur Rosaria Mifsud, age 8.Mgarr Josephine Borg, age 44; Mary Vella, age 36; Saviour Vella, age 60.SiggiewiMichael Sammut, age 46.

OPERATIONS REPORTS FRIDAY 11 APRIL 1941

ROYAL NAVY Jervis, Janus, MohawkandNubianarrived for operations against the Tripoli convoy route. After fuelling, the destroyers sailed to intercept a southbound convoy located by aircraft between Lampion and Kerkennah Bank, and reported as steaming at 15 knots. The destroyers failed to intercept and from a subsequent signal fromUnique, which failed to get through by wireless telegraph, it was apparent that the convoy's speed had not exceeded 9 knots.

AIR HQArrivals1 Sunderland. Swordfish engage in night attack. Maryland photo-reconnaissance Tripoli. 2 Maryland on sea patrol.

HAL FAR Two Hurricanes from Ta Qali crash-landed after air battle; one of 2 pilots slightly hurt.

KALAFRANAOne Sunderland arrived from Gibraltar with freight.

Cyrenaica
By noon on 11 April it was apparent that Rommel's forces were astride the El Adem Road in considerable force and were to continuing to move eastward to complete the encirclement At 12.20pm 10 tanks approached within 1000 yards of Post R59 (on 2/28 Bn's front in the southeast sector); 5 were put out of action by the 24th Anti-Tank Company and the rest withdrew.

The supporting infantry dismounted from trucks and attacked post R63; they were repulsed, but 2 men of 2/28 Bn were wounded, one mortally.

The various actions undertaken during the day all seemed to point to the imminence of an assault on the fortress and to the likelihood that it would be made at first light next morning near the boundary of the 20th and 24th Brigades, in the southeastern centre east of the El Adem road. However, this attack did not take place where and when anticipated.

This was the first defeat of blitzkrieg methods in north Africa, and tactical handling was worked out by Moreshead personally. The crux was to break the armoured spearhead of the panzers from the wooden shaft of the spear (their support troops). The Australian infantry deliberately held fire allowed the panzers passed and then attacked the support troops, The panzers blundered into a carefully prepared second defence line of artillary dug in and a small mobile reserve of Britsih tanks. With little support they retreated, abandoning their own infantry to their fate. The mutually supporting Infantry/Armour teams that was the hallmark of German combat methods began to fall apart in this small battle.

This action took several days to unfold and was to see the awardf of the 9ths first Victoria Cross on the 14th

 

[Njaco]

April 12 Saturday
MEDITERRANEAN: Unternehmen 25/ Unternehmen Marita: German troops captured Belgrade in the Serbia region of Yugoslavia as Hugarian troops also crossed the border into Yugoslavia, joining the invasion. Belgrade, the capital of Yugoslavia, fell to the Germans as armored columns of the XLVI Panzer Corps stormed in from three sides. Even before the tanks entered, a young German captain and nine enlisted men bluffed their way into the city, and virtually the entire defense garrison surrendered. Zagreb was occupied, and the Germans were greeted enthusiastically by the Croatian population. On the Danube River in Yugoslavia, German Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers, sink the river monitor "Drava" (54 were killed, 13 survived) while forcing three others, "Morava", "Sava", and "Vardar", to be scuttled.

To the south in Greece, German SS troops overran British and Australian troops south of Vevi, forcing the Allies to fall back. Outnumbered Australian troops at Vevi, in the Monastir gap just south of the Yugoslav border, fought a bitter defensive battle with a panzer division but finally had to yield. With the Aliakmon Line unhinged, Allied forces to the East pull back to a line inland from Mount Olympus to block both the valley from Vevi and the coastal route from Salonika. On the same day, British anti-aircraft cruiser HMS "Coventry", destroyer HMS "Decoy", destroyer HMS "Encounter", and troopship "Glenroy" evacuated a battalion of troops, 1,000 tons of supplies, and 40 vehicles from the Greek island of Lesbos in the Aegean Sea near Salonika. British vessel "Marie Maersk" was sunk by Axis aircraft at Piraeus.

Operation Lustre: Australian 17th Infantry Brigade began arriving Athens by sea from Egypt.

British submarine HMS "Tetrarch" sank Italian tanker "Persiano" 55 miles northeast of Tripoli, Libya.

WESTERN FRONT: Werner Hübner, a seven victory pilot with JG 51 is shot down and killed in combat against the Allies.

RAF Bomber Command sends 66 aircraft to attack warships at Brest and 24 aircraft to attack airfield at Bordeaux overnight.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-124 sank British ship "St. Helena" 100 miles southwest of Freetown, Sierra Leone, British West Africa at 0509 hours; all 41 aboard survived and were rescued by destroyer HMS "Wishart".

German armed merchant cruiser "Kormoran" sank Greek ship "Nicolaos D. L." 920 miles southwest of British West Africa, capturing the entire crew of 38.

NORTHERN EUROPE: British bombers conducted a raid on the fish oil factories in Hammerfest, Norway.

NORTH AMERICA: US established air and naval bases in Greenland. South Greenland's governor informed the American consul at Godthaab that he would not recognize the agreement concluded by the Danish minister in Washington giving the U.S. military base rights in Greenland. He said he would resist any such move until "faced with the fate accompli." The U.S. presented him with the fate accompli when it sent a contingent of U.S. Marines and three coast guard cutters to Greenland. The German government demands the Danish Government try Minister Henrik de Kaufmann for treason for negotiating the treaty with the United States for protection of Greenland, and to announce that the Danish government is not bound by the treaty.

The 8th airfield in the Panama Canal Zone was declared operational.

NORTH AFRICA: First Siege of Tobruk: German 3rd Recon Battalion troops captured Bardia, Libya. At Tobruk, the German probing attacks with tanks and armored cars were repulsed. Rommel underestimated the number of Allied troops at Tobruk (about 30,000) and their determination. German tanks and armored cars again probe the perimeter in small groups but were repelled. Luftwaffe and artillery bombarded Tobruk (3 Stukas shot down over the harbour). Believing the Allies ready to evacuate Tobruk, Rommel also sent columns further east to chase the British into Egypt (his stated goal is the Suez Canal). To prevent this, British prepared blocking positions at Halfaya Pass, near Sollum, Egypt. RAF bombs and strafes German columns moving around Tobruk and towards the frontier with Egypt.

GERMANY: Adolf Hitler arrived at Mönichkirchen, Germany (occupied Austria) via his personal train Amerika. He would remain in his village to oversee the operations in the Balkan Peninsula.

RAF Bomber Command sends 20 aircraft to attack Dusseldorf and Gelsenkirchen in daylight.

UNITED KINGDOM: General Henry Arnold arrives London from US via Lisbon and begins meeting with Churchill, Beaverbrook, Portal, and others about cooperation on air issues.

.

 

[Njaco]

April 13 Sunday
MEDITERRANEAN: Unternehmen 25/ Unternehmen Marita: The German Leibstandarte SS Regiment attacked through the Metsovon Pass in an attempt to flank the Greek positions on the front with Albania. To prevent this, Greek General Papago ordered Greek troops in Albania to fall back. Italians pursue the withdrawal along the entire front, allowing Italian 11th Army capturing the towns of Korçë, Permet and Porto Palermo on the Mediterranean coast. Further south, German aircraft attacked Piraeus, Greece, sinking Greek destroyer "Psara" and damaging destroyer "Vasilevs Georgios I".

The Battle of Ptolemaida was fought, resulting in German victory. The Battle of Ptolemaida refers to two distinct engagements, the first around the village of Sotir north of Ptolemaida and the second around the village of Proasteion south of Ptolemaida, during the German invasion of Greece. These battles were delaying actions fought by Allied units under the overall command of the British 1st Armoured Brigade against the German 9.Panzerdivision, to cover the Allied withdrawal from their positions at Klidi and Mt. Vermion toward the new defensive line of Mt.Olympus - river Aliakmon - Mt. Siniatsikon.

The Battle of Kleisoura Pass began. The battle was fought over the narrow pass that crosses between Mt. Vitsi and Mt. Siniatsiko, between elements of the Greek 20th Infantry Division which were occupying the pass and the German Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, a mechanized infantry unit of brigade level. The pass was strategically important for it stood on the main Allied defensive line (Mt.Vitsi– Mt. Siniatsiko– river Aliakmon – Mt. Olympos), behind which passed the withdrawal route of the Greek army engaged against the Italians in Albania. The Greek 20th Division's task was to occupy and defend the passes of Kleisoura and Vlasti. With the Dodecanese Regiment of the division detached and attached to Mackay Force at Klidi pass, the 80th Regiment was tasked with defending Kleisoura Pass and the 35th Regiment with the defence of Vlasti Pass. Realizing the importance of the Kleisoura Pass and the organization of the location, the commander of TSKM sent ahead on motor vehicles the infantry battalions I/87 and II/80 as well as two sapper companies and a battalion (two batteries) of mountain artillery on 10 April, to prepare the defences. The first contact was made at 1700 hours on 13 April. German forward elements attacked the Greek line, particularly battalion I/87 on height Sargonitsa. With intense effort and artillery support, the attacking Germans managed at 2100 hours to throw back the I/87 in disarray. The Germans remained idle, and did not continue their maneuver. Throughout the night exchange of artillery fire continued, which depleted the Greek ammunition stocks. A total of 50 Greek officers and soldiers were killed during the fighting of 13 April.

Over Greece, three Bf 109s from 8./JG 27 bounce a flight of six Bristol Blenheim IV bombers of RAF No. 211 Squadron and destroy the entire British formation.

Luftwaffe aircraft conducted a raid on Malta. On a morning patrol over Malta, RAF ace F/O "Imshi" Mason finds a Schwarm of Bf 109s below him. Leaving his wingman, Mason dives on the Messerschmitts only to have his target fly off leaving him among the remaining three German fighters. Trying to get away, Mason is hit in the hand and his Hurricane is shot up but does not catch fire. Mason makes it back to his base and spends time at hospital, leaving Malta and never returning. Oblt. Mietusch of 7./JG 26 is credited with a kill for the action.

The II Gruppe of JG 77 under Hptm. Lange joins Major von Winterfeldt's III Gruppe of JG 77 at the airfield at Deta in Rumania.

Pope Pius XII broadcast an Easter address asking listeners to pray for an early peace. He directed a message to the occupying powers as well, saying;

"let your conscience guide you in dealing justly, humanely and providently with the peoples of occupied territories. Do not impose upon them burdens which you in similar circumstances have felt or would feel to be unjust."

The pope also called for an end to attacks against civilian targets.

EASTERN EUROPE: The Soviet Union and Japan sign a five year Neutrality Agreement. For Stalin this is an invaluable piece of diplomacy which, backed by secret information from Soviet spies in Tokyo, will allow him to transfer forces from Siberia to face a possible German attack. These moves begin now. The agreement represents a complete change in Japanese policy and marks the growing concern of the Japanese military leaders and statesmen to look south to the resources of the East Indies. The agreement has been negotiated almost alone by Foreign Minister Matsuoka, in Moscow on the way back from a European visit. German ambassador Friedrich Werner von der Schulenburg reported that Joseph Stalin was unexpectedly friendly to both Japanese and German diplomats on this date.

NORTH AFRICA: First Siege of Tobruk: Rommel has finally received 2 maps of Tobruk's defenses from his Italian allies (he keeps 1 map and gives the other to 5.Leichte Division commander General Streich). Rommel decides to concentrate his armor and plan an attack on Tobruk in force, using 5.Leichte Division plus Italian Ariete and Trento Divisions from the South at dusk. Allied defenders observe the preparations. Axis artillery bombarded Allied defensive positions at Tobruk at 1700 hours, and 30 minutes later German 5.Leichte Division, Italian Ariete Division, and Italian Trento Division commenced an attack. After an artillery barrage, German infantry advancing at 1730 hours were prevented from blowing the wire and filling anti-tank ditches by accurate British artillery fire. German tanks mill around overnight unable to find gaps to penetrate. Australian troops repulsed the repeated attacks. Further east, German troops captured Fort Capuzzo near the Libyan-Egyptian border. Fort Capuzzo has now changed hands 4 times since June 1940. Later Rommel receives orders from Berlin that he is to consolidate on the Egyptian frontier and concentrate of capturing Tobruk. Only then will he be allowed to push into Egypt. The result of this order is that Rommel decides to rest his exhausted troops and wait until the 15.Panzerdivision arrives at the end of May before making a major assault against Tobruk.

In Ethiopia, the Indian 29th Infantry Brigade began advancing south toward Amba Alagi from Eritrea while South African 1st Infantry Brigade advanced north toward Dessie from Addis Ababa and East African 22nd Infantry Brigade pushed south from Addis Ababa.

The two Swordfish aircraft squadrons of HMS "Eagle" which had been temporarily transferred to Port Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan three weeks prior returned to the carrier shortly after she had transited the Suez Canal.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-108, having tracked and unsuccessfully attacked the British armed merchant cruiser HMS "Rajputana" for the past two days, sank her with a torpedo 100 miles west of Iceland at 0743 hours; 40 were killed, 283 were rescued by destroyer HMS "Legion".

German submarine U-124 sank British ship "Corinthic" 75 miles west of Sierra Leone, British West Africa at 2229 hours; 2 were killed, 39 survived.

NORTH AMERICA: Alarmed by the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact, US President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the US Navy to scale back operations in the Atlantic Ocean to avoid war with Germany, as naval resources might need to be diverted to the Pacific Ocean to counter this new threat.

UNITED KINGDOM: British battleship HMS "King George V", light cruiser HMS "Nigeria", and destroyers HMS "Mashona", HMS "Electra", and HMS "Escapade" departed Scapa Flow, Scotland at 0107 hours in poor weather.

The forty Manchester bombers on the strength of RAF Nos. 207 and 97 Squadrons were grounded for engine modifications. During the work alterations were also made to allow the carriage of 4000-pound HC (high capacity) bombs; the first of which was dropped by a RAF No. 207 Squadron aircraft on Berlin, Germany on the night of 8 to 9 May 1941.


.

 

[parsifal]

12 APRIL 1941
Losses
U.124 sank steamer ST HELENA (UK 4313 grt) off the coast of Sierra Leone. The entire crew was rescued. She was on passage from Montevideo to hull, via Freetown with a mixed cargo (mostly canned meats). She was sailing independently when lost. At 0509 hrs the unescorted ST HELENA was hit under the bridge by one torpedo from U-124 and sank capsizing to port about 100 miles sw of Freetown. The U-boat surfaced and questioned the survivors before leaving the area. The master, 35 crew members, two gunners and three passengers were picked up by DD WISHART and landed at Freetown.

Steamer ARBEL (Belg 901 grt) was sunk by the LW off the UK west coast. Three crew were lost.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer KEXHOLM (SD 3815 grt) was sunk by the LW in the western approaches. The entire crew was rescued.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Grain elevator CHICAGO (UK 250 grt (est)) was sunk by the LW at Millwall Dock, London.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer NICOLAOS D. L. (Gk 5486 grt) was sunk by DKM raider KORMORAN in the Central Atlantic whilst on passage from Vancouver to Durban. The entire crew was taken as prisoners of war.

UBOATS
Departures
Lorient: U-65
St Nazaire: U-95, U-96
At Sea 12 April 1941
U-38, U-52, U-65, U-73, U-75, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-98, U-101, U-103, U-105, U-106, U-107, U-108, U-123, U-124, U-552

18 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Northern Waters
Naval drifter RYPA (RN 31 grt), with a Norwegian crew, was lost in Loch Ewe in heavy weather.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

West Coast
OB.309 departed liverpool, escort DDs CHELSEA, VERITY, VETERAN, and WOLVERINE, armed boarding vessel MARON, seaplane carrier PEGASUS, sloop DEPTFORD, and corvettes BEGONIA, CONVOLVULUS, and LARKSPUR. Destroyers CHELSEA and VERITY were detached on the 15th and sloop DEPTFORD on the 16th. On the 15th, DD ROCKINGHAM and corvettes CAMPANULA and PIMPERNEL joined the escort. DDs VETERAN and WOLVERINE were detached on the 18th. The remainder of the escort was detached on the 19th when the convoy dispersed.

British steamer DARTFORD was damaged by the LW 1.5 miles sth of Mumbles Lighthouse, in the Bristol Channel. The steamer was towed to port.

SW Approaches
Submarine UNBEATEN departed Portsmouth for Gibraltar arriving on the 21st.
RM sub TAZZOLI attacked a DD without success in the SW Approaches.

Med/Biscay
CLA PHOEBE arrived at Suez for duty in the Med Flt after duty as WS.6A convoy escort. The cruiser moved through the Canal in the dark. DD KIMBERLEY also arrived at Suez on the 12th to join the Med Flt.

CLA COVENTRY, DDs DECOY and ENCOUNTER, and troopship GLENROY evacuated Mudros. The entire bn of troops, over 1000 tons of stores, and forty army vehicles were embarked in 12 hrs. The ships departed Mudros at 0645 on the 13th and arrived at Alexandria on the 15th.

In Operation MBD.3, DDs STUART (RAN), GRIFFIN, JUNO, and JAGUAR were sweeping off Cyrenaica from Ras Tayones to Ras et Tin covered by CLs ORION, AJAX, and RAN PERTH and DD HASTY during the night of 12/13 April. This operation was repeated the next night.

Destroyers JUNO and JAGUAR swept from Ras Tayones to Ras Tolmeita. DDs STUART and GRIFFIN swept from Ras Tolmeita to Ras el Hillal. DDs VENDETTA and WATERHEN swept from Ras el Hillal to Ras el Tin. The sweep was covered by the same covering force as the night before. On both nights, the sweeps started at midnight. There were no contacts on either night. After the sweep, VENDETTA and WATERHEN returned to the Inshore Squadron. CL PERTH and DDs JUNO, JAGUAR, STUART, GRIFFIN, and HASTY returned to Alexandria. En route, DDs GRIFFIN and STUART were diverted to Sollum to arrive at daylight on the 14th. CLs ORION and AJAX remained to the west of Crete to cover convoy movements.

Submarine URSULA unsuccessfully attacked shipping south of Cape Bon.

Destroyers JERVIS, JANUS, MOHAWK, and NUBIAN departed Malta to again attempt to intercept southbound convoy of steamers ANKARA, MARBURG, KIBFELS, REICHENFELS, and GALILEA, escorted by DDs VIVALDI, DA NOLI, MALOCOLLO, and DARDO. TBs CIRCE and MONTANARI joined from Tripoli. In air attack on this convoy during the night of12/13 April, A/Sub Lt (A) A. P. Dawson with Leading Airman A. Todd and Petty Officer Airman C. H. Wines with Leading Airman L. M. Edwards of 830 Squadron from ST ANGELO, were shot down and interned by the French. The DDs failed to make any contact and returned to Malta.

Sub OLYMPUS arrived at Malta to reinforce the flotilla based there. However, she was in such poor condition, she was to be sailed back to Gibraltar as soon as repairs could be arranged.

Tanker MARIE MAERSK (UK 8271 grt) was sunk by the LW at Piraeus. The steamer was later refloated and repaired at Trieste. She was renamed LUISA for Italian use.

Central Atlantic
BC REPULSE arrived at Gibraltar, escorted by DDs HIGHLANDER and FORTUNE. DDs FURY and VELOX were detached off Gibraltar to join arriving BB QUEEN ELIZABETH. DD BOREAS departed Gibraltar on the 12th to join the other two DDs to escort the BB. CL FIJI arrived separately at Gibraltar.

Ocean boarding vessel CAMITO departed Gibraltar for Western Patrol.

AMC DUNNOTTAR CASTLE captured steamer BANFORA (Vichy 4000 grt (est)), which had departed Dakar on the 10th, near Port Etienne. The steamer arrived at Freetown on the 17th.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Malta
AIR RAIDS DAWN 12 APRIL TO DAWN 13 APRIL 1941
Weather Fine.
0707-0738 hrs Air raid alert for two enemy aircraft which carry out a patrol to the north of the Island.
1935 hrs Four destroyers leave Grand Harbour.
2307 hrs Air raid alert for nine enemy aircraft which approach the Island singly from the north and the south east. One raider machine-guns the Sergeants' Mess at Kalafrana. Bombs are dropped on St Paul's Bay. Anti-aircraft guns engage the enemy south east of St Paul's Bay using predicted barrage. One Hurricane is scrambled; no claims.
0030 hrs Air raid alert as another single enemy aircraft crosses the coast and drops bombs on the Ta Qali area, breaking windows in the Station headquarters and the Pottery, as well as near Naxxar and by the salt pans at Salina Bay. Anti-aircraft guns engage; no claims. An unexploded bomb is reported at Naxxar.
0134 hrs All clear.
0217-0355 hrs Air raid alert for four enemy aircraft which approach and patrol round the Island; no bombs are dropped. Anti-aircraft guns engage using predicted barrage and one Hurricane is scrambled; no claims.
0443-0615 hrs Air raid alert for several enemy aircraft (believed to be JU 88 bombers) which cross the coast and drop bombs on Luqa, Hal Far and Ta Qali airfields. Three bombs causing craters on the edge of Ta Qali aerodrome are found to be filled with concrete. A large number of bombs falls in the area of B Company and headquarters 4th Bn The Buffs, causing severe damage to property and two casualties, one very serious. 24 unexploded bombs are later found in the area. The bombers also attack four destroyers returning from enemy convoy patrol. Anti-aircraft guns engage using visual and predicted barrages; no claims.
OPERATIONS REPORTS SATURDAY 12 APRIL 1941
ROYAL NAVY Submarine Olympus arrived at Malta to reinforce the Mediterranean submarines.
830 Squadron strike force attacked a fast enemy convoy located by reconnaissance aircraft off the entrance to the Gulf of Hammamet; no hits were scored and two aircraft were lost. The convoy turned north and retired at high speed, passing to the west of Pantelleria at 0230 hrs. Destroyers sent to attack were unable to locate the convoy. Upholder located, engaged and diverted the convoy but 14 Flotilla was already on the way back to Malta.
AIR HQ 69 Squadron Maryland reconnaissance between Cape Bon and Trapani for enemy shipping: convoy located and a second Maryland sent to shadow it for a Swordfish operation at night.
HAL FAR P/O Sugden crashed on landing after an early morning flight; he was unhurt. PM Operational flight by 830 Squadron against Tripoli; two aircraft failed to return (pilots S/Lt Dawson and P O Wines).

Cyrenaica
Initiating the first of Moresheads aggressive patrols beyond the perimeter, pioneers from 2/17 reserve company found the enemy had withdrawn from the AT ditch, except for a detachment of enemy pioneers from their Assault Bn 200, who were discovered cutting through the wire and were equipped with demolition charges and some makeshift bridging equipment. The enemy troops were driven off easily with several captured and almost their entire supply of engineering equipment in the bag as well. However, this and other discoveries from the patrols made it clear the enemy intention was to attack in the SE sector at the command demarcation point between 20th and 24th Bdes. In response reserve troops of the defence were detailed to lay additional minesalong the front of the threatened Bns.
The D company war diary reported that everything was quiet before dawn in the vicinity of a position the Australians referred to as "Kings Cross". The dawn saw some dust whipped up by the rising wind, and British artillery began some suppressive fire at long range. In addition, Moreshead ordered four batteries of 25 pounders dug in near the junction of the El Adem / Bardia road junctions to provide a ready use fire support source and act as a reserve back up position should the forward defences be forced back. Moreshead also moved up several 2 pdr ATGs from 3 RHA to Kings Cross. The RAF in Egypt were requested to provide Blenheims as air support to attack Axis vehicle concentrations further to the rear.

The entire garrison was stood to arms predawn on the 12th but the anticipated assault did not materialize immediately. Mid morning, some tanks did appear in front of 2/17 Bn, looking for gaps in the AT Ditch. One concentration of enemy vehicles was heavily sheled for 90 mins. German Infantry advanced on to posts R-33 and R-35, but were suffering steady attrition from the suppressive fire and for a time were brought to ground 500 yds from the perimeter. They were pinned for almost an hour but did eventually restart their advance. The B/O Btty of 1 RHA delivered a concentrated amount of fire which broke up thjis further attack, systematically working over the enemy flanks and then finally their centre. Most of the German Infantry took shelter in the AT ditch, but a small group near R=33 got into an intense fire fight. 6 RAF bombers appeared and dropped bombs on them at which point the Germans decided they had had enough and retired to beyond the line about 1500 yds distant. Up to this point, the germans had made no inroads into the Australian defences.

 

[parsifal]

13 APRIL 1941
Losses
U.108 sank AMC RAJPUTANA (RN 16,444 grt) west of iceland in the Denmark Strait. DDs ECHO, GARLAND, ST MARYS, and LANCASTER were sent to assist. DDs LEGION and PIORUN rescued the 277 survivors and took them to Iceland. 42 crew members were lost. At 0743 hours on 13 April 1941, HMS RAJPUTANA was hit by one torpedo from U-108 west of Reykjavik. She had been command ship of HX 117 but was then dispatched to patrol the Strait of Denmark. The AMC had been first spotted by the U-boat at 0945 hrs on 11 April and was followed while she was patrolling on a zigzag course at high speed and sometimes making 180° turns. The chase was hampered by problems with the periscope, pack ice and snow. Two torpedoes were fired at 1808 hrs on 11 April missed as did two more fired at 2046 and 2048 hrs on 12 April. A fifth torpedo at 0740 hrs on 13 April missed, but the sixth at 0743 hrs hit the stern and caused a fire on the ship, which then opened fire on the periscope. An intended coup de grace at 0823 hrs failed, but the next torpedo at 0930 hours struck in the after part and caused the ship to sink by the stern with a list to port.

U.124 sank steamer CORINTHIC (UK 4823 grt) off the coast of Sierra Leone. She was on passage from Rosario to Freetown, and then intended to make the journey to the UK. She was carrying a cargo of grain when lost and had a crew of 41 embarked. At 2229 hrs the unescorted CORINTHICwas hit underneath the bridge by one torpedo from U-124 and stopped sw of Freetown. Because the vessel did not sink the U-boat fired a coup de grace at 2244 hrs, but this proved to be a dud and they had to fire another torpedo 10 mins later that hit and sank the ship. Two crew members were lost. The master, 36 crew members and two gunners were picked up by the Dutch tanker MALVINA and landed at Freetown. Some sources state that only one crewman was lost on the steamer.

UBOATS
Departures
Kiel U-141, U-553

At Sea 13 April 1941
U-38, U-52, U-65, U-73, U-75, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-98, U-101, U-103, U-105, U-106, U-107, U-108, U-123, U-124, U-141, U-552, U-553

20 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Northern Patrol
CLs GALATEA and ARETHUSA departed Scapa Flow for Siedisfjord. The cruisers then proceeded to Reykjavik, via Akureyri. After refuelling at Reykjavik, the cruisers patrolled in the Denmark Strait.
Northern Waters
BB KG V, CL NIGERIA, and DDs MASHONA, ELECTRA, and ESCAPADE departed Scapa Flow. However, bad weather delayed the ships' progress. The DDs were detached to Londonderry to refuel on the 16th. They sailed on the 17th and rejoined on the 20th.

CLA HERMIONE arrived at Scapa Flow to work up and join CruSqn 15.

DD ERIDGE departed Scapa Flow for Londonderry to join the Western Approaches Command, following work up.

West Coast
OB.310 departed Liverpool, escort DDs AMAZON, BULLDOG, and CHESTERFIELD, corvettes AUBRETIA, HOLLYHOCK, NIGELLA, and PICOTEE, MSWs GOSSAMER, HARRIER, and SALAMANDER, and ASW trawlers DANEMAN and ST APOLLO. The MSWs and the trawlers were detached that day. On the 15th, ASW trawlers BUTTERMERE, WASTWATER, and WINDERMERE joined the convoy. The escort was detached on the 18th when the convoy dispersed.

British steamer BARON BELHAVEN was damaged by the LW off the west coast UK. Four crew were killed on the steamer. The steamer was towed to Milford Haven and later drydocked at Barry.

SW Approaches
Submarine UNION departed Portsmouth for Gibraltar where she arrived on the 22nd

Channel
Submarines UNDAUNTED, having departed Portsmouth on the 3rd, and TORBAYand TAKU from patrol in the Bay of Biscay arrived at Gibraltar.

Med/Biscay
CVL EAGLE passed through the Suez Canal to return to England.

CLA PHOEBE and DD KANDAHAR arrived at Alexandria for duty with the Med Flt.

Convoys GA.12 of three British ships and ASF.25 departed Piraeus in company escort CLA CARLISLE, DDs HEREWARD and DEFENDER, and sloop AUCKLAND. Sloop FLAMINGO at Piraeus was retained by the Naval Attache Athens for AA duties atSalamis. CARLISLEarrived atAlexandria to refuel on the 15th. GA.12 arrived at Alexandria with DDs HEREWARD and DEFENDER on the 15th. HEREWARD immediately departed with three ships to join convoy AN.27.

Convoy ASF.25 arrived at Alexandria late on the 15th, escort DD HEREWARD and sloop AUCKLAND.

DD ISIS and RAN DD VAMPIRE departed Alexandria for Port Said. They arrived and departed that same day with troopships GLENEARN and GLENGYLE for Alexandria.
The force arrived safely at Alexandria on the 14th.

RHN DD VASILEVS GEORGIOS I was badly damaged by German bombing near Piraeus in the Saronikos Gulf. She was to be captured and pressed into German service, the only DKM DD in the Med. For the moment, the DD was docked at Salamis.

Hydra Class DD PSARA (RHN 1389 grt) was sunk by the LW in the Gulf ofAthens with the loss of 37 crew. Some sources say she was lost on the 20th April.

ASW whaler SKUDD IV was damaged by the LW at Tobruk. Trawler MOY towed the trawler into harbour.

Steamer CITY OF KARACHI (UK 7140 grt) was badly damaged by the LW at Volo, Greece. There were no casualties on the steamer. On the 14th, the steamer was towed, assisted by British steamer DESTRO and an RHN DD, and beached in a bay southwest of Volo. Bombed again on the 15th, she became a total loss.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Steamer BRATTDAL (Nor 4968 grt) was badly damaged by the LW at Volo Bay. One crewman was killed in the attack. The steamer sank on the 17th after further repeated air attacks.

Central Atlantic
BC REPULSE departed Gibraltar, escort DDs HIGHLANDER and FORTUNE, for patrol near the Azores.

CL FIJI departedGibraltarfor Freetown.

Malta

Cyrenaica
The axis forces were to continue in their attacks, given that the 12th activity was essentially a rconnaisance. The main assault force was a Kampfgruppe from 5th Light. On their left was almost the entire Ariete armoured div, and farther to the left a regiment of Trento Motorized Infantry Div. 27th Brescia infantry Div was astride the Derna Road to the west

The Axis forces used much of the night of 12/13 April getting their forces into position and artillery set up. The first real signs of movement along the sector held by 2/17 Bn did not arise until the afternoon. From about that time enemy aircraft were flying over the sector, and armoured car probes searched the southern perimeter for weaknesses.
Further back, out of sight, enemy truck borne Infantry, about 4000 in number began assembling. Small groups of German Infantry, built around machine guns mostly moved forward to the 1500 yd line and began to engage any Australians seen in movement along this sector.

At 1600 Lt Col Crawford (2/17 commander) ordered his reserve (B Company) to move forward to the D Company positions, then manning posts R30 through to R-35 inclusive.

At 1700 the Germans opened up with their heavy artillery support, concentrating on the D company sector, but no ground assault immediately developed after this. However, at 1730, the Australian forward OPs reported several enemy tanks and some Infantry about 500 yds from the wire, advancing under covering fire. Concentrated artillery fire from 1 and 107th RHA broke this advance up.

After dark 3 enemy tanks patrolled singly along the AT ditch, possibly probing for crossing points. At 2300 it was reported that, before blowing a gap in the AT ditch, the Germans infiltrated across the wire with 2 small Infantry guns, a mortar and 8 MGs and about 30 Infantry. They broke through the wire and dug in 100 yds east of Post R-33. The R-33 defenders returned fire, but when that failed to dislodge the Germans, the post commander, Lt Col <ackell and six of his men counterattacked with grenades and bayonets. 12 germans were killed , one was captured and the remainder fled. One of the attacking infantrymen was Cpl Jack Edmondson who was to be awarded a posthumous VC for bravery, the first awarded to an Australian in WWII

Jack Edmondson. Photograph taken by an unknown photographer whilst the 9th was in training
During the night, the Australians again conducted some very aggressive patrolling. Crawford sent out two patrols , one described above, in the vicinity of post R-33. Both patrols brought back prisoners and captured equipment. Both prisoners were from the 5th Light's 8th MG Bn. With this information, Crawford alerted B Company , then located 500 m behind the R-33, at post R-32, to be ready to make a strong counterattack at dawn of the 14th

 

[Njaco]

April 14 Monday
MEDITERRANEAN: Unternehmen 25/ Unternehmen Marita: The Greek Epirus Army continued to withdraw from Albania, and German 73rd Infantry Division attempted to block it at Kastoria Pass, resulting in heavy fighting. On the eastern coast of Greece, the German advance was halted at Platamon between Mount Olympus and the Aegean Sea. As the Yugoslavian surrender is imminent, King Petar II of Yugoslavia fled to Athens, Greece as German troops advanced on his capital. In the evening, the Yugoslavian government asked General Ewald von Kleist of the German 1st Panzer Group for a ceasefire.

The Battle of Kleisoura Pass: The 9.Panzerdivision established a bridgehead across the Haliacmon river, but an attempt to advance beyond this point was stopped by intense Allied fire. The Germans attacked from both roads on the eastern exit of the pass, using smoke screens and intense machinegun fire for cover. One attack was directed astride the road and north of the ravine Bisti towards Daouli col, supported by "tanks" (i.e. assault guns), while the other was directed south of the ravine and towards the village of Kleisoura and the height Tzouma Manou. From their positions on Sargonitsa height, the Germans opened fire on the flank of the Greek 6th Machine-gun battalion defending Daouli col. Beginning at 0900 hours, the 6th P.MG. Battalion's line began to unravel, its machine-guns getting knocked out one by one and elements retreating to the rear. At 1030 hours, ammunition (2,000 rounds per machine-gun) had been depleted, and the remainder of the battalion surrendered. Battalion I/80 to the south was not attacked in force, however its commander recognizing the danger of encirclement from the north ordered a withdrawal. The commander of the 20th Division tried to reorganize the units west of the pass, sending the artillery to the west to cover the infantry, while using a sapper company and the 20th Reconnaissance Group to block the retreat. However the German artillery and air force scattered the Greek columns and the wave of flight overran the blocking units. The Germans continued their advance, attacking the I/23 battalion and other elements of 13th division the next day, 15 April, in the Battle of Lake Kastoria.

British Swordfish torpedo bombers of RAF No. 815 Squadron based in Paramythia, Greece sank Italian steamers "Luciano" and "Stampalia" at the port of Vlorë, Albania overnight; 1 Swordfish aircraft was shot down, with 1 airman killed and 2 captured.

Expedition of Albanian partisans, accompanied by British Col. Oakley-Hill, ends in failure and withdraws.

WESTERN FRONT: During a 'special mission' a He 111 from Stab./KG 55 crashes into the sea north of Caen, France.

The first major mass arrest of Jews in Paris, France took place.

RAF Bomber Command sent 14 aircraft to attack power stations in the Netherlands during the day and 14 aircraft to attack coastal targets. RAF Bomber Command sent 94 aircraft to attack warships at Brest overnight.

NORTH AFRICA: First Siege of Tobruk: General Erwin Rommel begins his attack on Tobruk, Libya. German infantry filled anti-tank ditches and cut wires at the El Adem road starting at 0230 hours, with the work interrupted periodically by Allied fire. At 0520 hours, 36 tanks of German 5.Panzerregiment moved through the gap created by the infantry. Australian troops are trained to let the tanks pass and trap the following infantry in crossfire. 2 miles ahead, the German tanks were halted by British guns and dug-in Crusader tanks. In the air, British, German, and Italian fighters engaged in combat over the battlefront while 40 German Stuka dive bombers escorted by the fighters of 7./JG 26 and III./ZG 26 attacked the Tobruk harbor. At 0730 hours, the Axis offensive was called back after losing 16 tanks and 400 men (150 killed, 250 captured). Corporal John Edmondson of 2/17th Battalion of Australian 9th Division led a bayonet charge at Tobruk despite being shot in the stomach and neck, later dying of these wounds. He would be awarded a Victoria Cross. Australian infantry outside Tobruk reported the sighting of a number of "long-barreled guns on strange carriages". This was the first indication that the Germans were deploying the dreaded 88-mm anti-tank gun in the Western Desert (although on this occasion the guns were soon withdrawn when German infantry failed to create a gap). General Streich will later be removed from command of 5.Leichte Division by Rommel for failing to secure and expand the penetration.

British gunboat HMS "Aphis" bombarded Bardia, Libya, while gunboat HMS "Gnat" bombarded German troops at Sollum, Egypt. German aircraft damaged HMS "Gnat", killing 1.

King Farouk of Egypt invited Adolf Hitler for a discussion on Egyptian independence from the United Kingdom.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: German submarine U-52 sank Belgian passenger ship "Ville de Liège" 400 miles southwest of Iceland at 0117 hours; 40 were killed, 12 survived.

SOUTH ASIA: The British cargo ship, "Fort Stikine", carrying 1,400 tons of explosives and 124 gold bars worth £1 million, caught fire in Bombay harbour, India and exploded, showering the docks with blazing debris. The blast and tidal wave which followed sank four ships and damage a further eleven, one of which, a troopship, was hurled out of the water and onto the roof of a warehouse. Half an hour later, the wreck of the "Fort Stikine", was devastated by a second massive explosion which threw debris 3,000 feet into the air and over a square mile of the docks and city. The two explosions killed 231 and injured a further 476. The bodies of more than 500 dock workers and civilians were also recovered, another 1,000 people simply disappeared and 2,000 were hospitalized. Eleven ships were lost. In 1960 a dredger working in the harbour recovered a single gold bar.

SOUTH PACIFIC: A US Marine Corps garrison designated Marine Detachment, 1st Defense Battalion, was established at Palmyra Atoll.

UNITED KINGDOM: A Halifax bomber operating from Linton on Ouse airfield near York, crashed into a tree in a forced landing at Tollerton, near the base, after the port inner engine failed. According to the book 'Action Stations 4', the flight engineer cut all engines, by mistake, when instructed to turn on all cocks. Two of the crew were injured.

.

 

[parsifal]

14 APRIL 1941
Known Reinforcements
Neutral
Gar Class Sub USS GAR (SS 206)

Allied
RNorN Town Class DD St ALBANS (I-15)

Losses
U.52 sank steamer VILLE DE LIEGE (Belg 7430 grt) in the Nth Atlantic, whilst she was on passage from New York to Liverpool. She had a crew of 52, of which 40 were lost. She was transporting mostly steel, but also wool and bacon at the time of her loss. At 0117 hrs the unescorted VILLE DE LIEGE was hit aft by one of two torpedoes fired by U-52 about 700 miles east of Cape Farewell. At 0210 hrs, the ship sank burning after being hit by another G7a at 0130 hrs. The master, nine crew members and two passengers were the only survivors.

UBOATS
Arrivals
Lorient: U-98
Uncertain: U-553, U-141

Departures
Lorient: UA

At Sea 14 April 1941
U-38, U-52, U-65, U-73, U-75, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-101, U-103, U-105, U-106, U-107, U-108, U-123, U-124, U-552, UA

18 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
Northern Waters
AA ship ALYNBANK departed Scapa Flow at 0900 to join convoy WN.13 in the Pentland Firth and cover it to Methil, where they arrived on the 15th.

SW Approaches
Submarine URGE departed Portsmouth for Gibraltar where she arrived on the 23rd.

Med/Biscay
Gunboat APHIS bombarded Bardia. Gunboat GNAT bombarded Sollum, supported by RAN DDs STUART and RN GRIFFIN, which were detached from the RAN CL PERTH force returning to Alexandria. Gunboat GNAT was attacked by the LW and badly damaged, although the gunboat was able to proceed under her own power to Mersa Matruh. One rating was killed. From Mersa, after emergency repairs, GNAT arrived at Alexandria on the 16th and was sent on to Port Said for repairs. STUART and GRIFFIN arrived at Alexandria on the 15th.

RM sub SIRENA attacked two DDs NNW of Cape Spada without success at 2337.

Steamer CLAN CUMMING (UK 7264 grt) was sunk on a mine in Eleusis Bay, whilst on passage from Piraeus to Alexandria. Shortly after leaving port she struck a mine and sank after a large explosion. At this time she had 110 persons on board including the crew, 3 gunners and 77 Prisoners of War. Fortunately everyone was rescued. The steamer had been damaged some days earlier in the CLAN FRASER incident.

British hospital ship VITA was damaged by the LW off Tobruk. She was clearly marked as a hospital ship when attacked, by no less than 8 Ju-87 a/c. RAN DDs WATERHEN and VENDETTA and tug ST ISSEY was sent to assist the hospital ship. The hospital ship was returned to Tobruk. Hospital ship VITA at Tobruk was again attacked and damaged on 21 and 22 April. She was not however listed as lost

Steamer TRABZON (Tu 2485 grt) was sunk by the LW at Laurium (Daidaro nisos) while en route from Istanbul to Piraeus for repairs.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Convoy AN.27 of four British and six Greek ships departed Port Said and Haifa. A strong wind prevented three of the four ships in the Alexandria section from sailing.

DDs ISIS and RAN VAMPIRE were sailed to intercept the Port Said and Haifa section and escort the single ship from Alexandria. DD HEREWARD, which arrived at Alexandria with convoy GA.12 on the 15th, departed with the other three ships of AN.27 on the 15th to join the convoy which turned back to meet them. HEREWARD then joined convoy ASF.25 to return to Alexandria.

On the 16th, when the decision to evacuate Greece was made, four motor transport ships of convoy AN.27 were ordered to return to Alexandria. DD HOTSPUR from Alexandria and RAN DD VENDETTA from the Inshore Squadron were ordered to meet these four ships. VOYAGER was sent in place of VENDETTA. These four ships and VOYAGER were recalled to Alexandria on the 18th. CLA CARLISLE departed Alexandria and joined convoy AN.27 on the 17th, and arrived at Suda Bay on the 18th.

During the night of 14/15 April, Swordfish torpedo bombers sank steamer LUCIANO (FI 3329 grt) and Steamer STAMPALIA (FI 1228 grt) at Valona.

LUCIANO. No image of the STAMPALIA was found

Submarines TORBAY, TAKU, and UNDAUNTED departed Gibraltar for Malta.
When submarine TAKU was attacked by an Italian submarine, submarines TAKU and TORBAY were recalled to Gibraltar.

Central Atlantic
BB QUEEN ELIZABETH arrived at Gibraltar at 0900 and CLs SHEFFIELD and DUNEDIN arrived at 0700. DUNEDIN later that day departed for Freetown.
Pacific/Australia
RAN CL embarked Australian delegates for the ABDA conference and departed for Singapore, arriving on the 19th. The light cruiser returned to Australia. The ABDA conference was held at Singapore from 21 to 27 April. The conference was presided over by the British Commander in Chief Far East Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham. Attending were Commander in Chief China Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton, KCB DSO, Chief of the General Staff Netherlands East Indies Major General H. ter Poorten, representatives of Australian, New Zealand, British Indian armed forces, and Captain William R. Purnell, USN, Admiral Hart's Chief of Staff

Malta

Cyrenaica
The Germans had been surprised on the 12th and 13th, having assumed that the shipping at Tobruk was to evacuate the garrison. They now planned another night attack by the 5th Lt Division for 13/14 April which was again repulsed and summarized for the preceding day. Beginning at dawn of the 14th, groups of Axis vehicles were attacked by 45 and 55 squadrons RAF, which rearmed at the airfields inside the perimeter to increase the sortie rate throughout the day. Axis aircraft were also present with considerable effect, since it was not until the 19th April that the first Hurricanes were assigned to provide air cover over Tobruk.

The attack began after dark, with an attempt to get over the anti-tank ditch this time west of the El Adem road but still in the 2/17th Australian Bn sector. The Australians repulsed this effort. Another attempt was made later in the morning and this did secure a small bridgehead across the AT Ditch. It was in this sector that the 5th Panzer Regt drove through and turned northwards, with the objective to divide into one column for the harbour and one to move west to stop the escape of the garrison.

The German tanks were engaged head on by the 1st RHA and veered away, only to drive into the path of the British cruiser tanks, waiting dug in and also was the target of AT fire from three sides, losing 16 of 38 tanks that had been committed and retreated. The Australian infantry pinned and then suppressed the supporting German Infantry, forcing it back with considerable losses for the germans. As the German retreat continued, every gun and aircraft at Tobruk fired into the area. The German 8th Machine-Gun Battalion, one of the lead elements, lost 75% of its men, The garrison losses in this battle were 26 men killed, 64 wounded,two tanks and a field gun knocked out. German losses exceeded 400 and more than 25 tanks for the three days of fighting Attacks being developed from the south were abandoned and the 5th Light Division dug in, with the Schwerin Group (renamed after Prittwitz had been killed) to the east.

Captured Mk III tank photographede some time after the Easter battles, with 2/17 commander John Crawford and others standing in front Moreshead and his men had shown that it was possible for Infantry to defeat armour in the desert

 

[parsifal]

15 APRIL 1941
Known Reinforcements
Allied
Abdiel Class ML HMS ABDIEL (M-39)

Bathurst Class MSW HMAS BURNIE (J-198)

Fairmile B ML 228
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Losses
RM sub ENRICO TAZZOLI sank steamer AURILLAC (UK 4733 grt) off the coast of Portugal. One crewman was lost on the steamer. However it was some time before the survivors were rescued. Ocean boarding vessel CAMITO located wreckage, but did not locate any survivors.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Tug AQUILA (UK 59 grt) sunk by the LW in Alexandra Dock, Hull.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

UBOATS
Departures
Lorient: U-110

At Sea 15 April 1941
U-38, U-52, U-65, U-73, U-75, U-94, U-95, U-96, U-101, U-103, U-105, U-106, U-107, U-108, U-110, U-123, U-124, U-552, UA

19 boats at sea

OPERATIONS
North Sea
DD BATH departed Sheerness for Scapa Flow for work up. During the night, the DD was involved in a collision with an unknown merchant ship five miles north of No.20 Buoy and was diverted to the Tyne for repairs, arriving on the 16th. She was under repair until 19 May

Northern Waters
CL EDINBURGH, which had been on escort duties since 25 March, arrived at Scapa Flow after convoy SL.69 duties. DD ACHATES departed Greenock at 0840 for Scapa Flow. En route at 1400, the DD was diverted to Loch Alsh where she arrived just after midnight on the 16th. The DD departed Loch Alsh at midday on the 16th and arrived at Scapa Flow that evening.

DD TARTAR departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth, escorting depot ship GREENWICH. Both ships arrived at Methil on the 16th. The DD stood by to provide AA protection. TARTAR arrived back at Scapa Flow on the 17th.

SW Approaches
OG.59 departed Liverpool, escort DDs BEAGLE, COLUMBIA, and ST FRANCIS, sloop SANDWICH, corvettes HEATHER, HEPATICA, ORCHIS, TRILLIUM, and WINDFLOWER. Corvettes COLUMBINE and GARDENIA joined on the 17th. The DDs and the earlier corvettes were detached on the 20th. On the 24th, RNeN sub O.24 joined the convoy escort and on the 28th, Anti-submarine trawler ST WISTAN. The corvettes were detached before the convoy arrived at Gibraltar and arrived the day after the convoy, and arrived at Gibraltar on the 28th, escorted by ASW ST WISTAN and O.24. Sloop SANDWICH, which was separated in bad weather, arrived later.

HG.59 departed Gibraltar escorted by sloop ENCHANTRESS, corvettes GENTIAN, GERANIUM, and JONQUIL, and Dutch submarine O.24. Included in this convoy was French ship PLM 13, which was captured on 18 February. On the 22nd, corvetes GENTIAN and JONQUIL were detached, on the 23rd, corvette GERANIUM and submarine O.24. DDs KEPPEL and SABRE, corvette KINGCUP, and ASW trawlers LADY ELSA, NORTHERN DAWN, and WELLARD joined the convoy on the 27th, and arrived at Liverpool on 1 May.

Med/Biscay
CL GLOUCESTER and DD HASTY departed Alexandria. These ships bombarded Italian motor transport at Capuzzo and Bardia early on the 16th.

DD DECOY departed Alexandria for Tobruk to carry out a special raiding operation with gunboat LADYBIRD during the night of 16/17 April. Gunboat LADYBIRD bombarded Gazala.

DDs JERVIS, JANUS, MOHAWK, and NUBIAN departed Malta for a shipping sweep off Kerkenah Bank.

DD GREYHOUND joined the Inshore Squadron. During the night of 15/16 April, the DD joined RAN DD VENDETTA for a sweep along the Cyrenaican coast.

The following ships were sunk at Piraeus by the LW

Steamer GOALPARA (UK 5314 grt)
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

and Steamer QUILOA (UK 7765 grt).

The ships were beached and the crews from both ships were rescued.

Vichy subs ACTEON, FRESNEL, and HENRI POINCARE, which departed Toulon on the 10th and Oran on the 14th, passed Gibraltar en route to Casablanca, where they arrived on the 16th, escorted by TB LA BATAILLEUSE.

The FAA attacked Valona for a second night by Swordfish from Swordfish 815 sqn operating ashore. They sank the following two freighters:

Steamer LUCIANA (FI 3329 grt)

and STAMPALIA (FI 1228 grt) were sunk by British air bombing at Valona.
[NO IMAGE FOUND]

Sub Lt (A) W. C. Sarra and A/Sub Lt (A) J. Bowker of 815 Squadron, operating from Paramythia, were shot down and made pows.

Central Atlantic
BB QUEEN ELIZABETH departed Gibraltar for Freetown, escort DDs VELOX, WRESTLER, and FURY.

Malta

AIR RAIDS DAWN 15 APRIL TO DAWN 16 APRIL 1941
Weather Very cold and blustery; wet overnight.
2010-2055 hrs Air raid alert for suspected enemy aircraft. A Wellington bomber approaches from the north and is attacked by small arms fire from the ground. The pilot flashes the correct recognition signal before coming in to land safely and without damage.
0010-0223 hrs Air raid alert for three, then 12, then 14 enemy aircraft which approach from the north in close succession and drop bombs on Ta Qali, Rabat, Imtarfa, Mosta Fort, Madliena, Siggiewi, Dingli, Targa, Naxxar, Attard, Ricasoli, Grand Harbour, St Clements, Luqa aerodrome and Siggiewi. Bombing seems indiscriminate with no apparent definite objective apart from the Mental Hospital at Attard, which is singled out by several aircraft and straddled by 20 bombs; one patient is killed and nine injured. A large number of bombs fail to explode. A Malta night fighter is scrambled but searchlights illuminate targets on only two occasions and there are no interceptions. Anti-aircraft guns engage raiders heavily five times; no claims.
0237-0405 hrs Air raid alert for two enemy aircraft which circle the Island separately on 'nuisance' raids'. One anti-aircraft battery engages; no claim.

OPERATIONS REPORTS TUESDAY 15 APRIL 1941
ROYAL NAVY 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm 2 Swordfish despatched overnight to locate and shadow a convoy of 5 merchant vessels and 3 destroyers reported by Maryland. Convoy located off Kerkenah when British destroyers had begun action. Aircraft located another southbound convoy at 1357 hrs. A later sighting gave the convoy speed as 8 knots. 14th Destroyer Flotilla, destroyers Jervis, Janus, Mohawk and Nubian sailed at 1800 hrs under cover of rain and low cloud for a shipping sweep off Kerkennah Bank.
AIR HQ 69 Squadron Maryland reconnaissance eastern Tunisian coast for enemy shipping; convoy of five merchant vessels and three destroyers. Second Maryland despatched to shadow convoy for destroyer striking force. Maryland reconnaissance Palermo unsuccessful due to low cloud and rain.
1st Bn CHESHIRE REGIMENT We have taken over a number of Lewis guns for use in the defences. A short refresher course is being held today and tomorrow. B Company moved to their Dockyard position at the Naval Canteen. One platoon of C Company took over their old HQ at Notre Dame Ravelin.

Cyrenaica
On 15 Apr, Rommel shifted the weight of the attack on the western side of Tobruk. At 1730 hours, 1,000 Italian troops attacked the defensive line held by the 2nd Battalion of the Australian 24th Brigade, overrunning one position quickly; only the arrival of an additional company plus heavy artillery fire by the 51st Field Artillery Regiment drove back the Italians.

 

[Njaco]

April 15 Tuesday
UNITED KINGDOM: The Belfast Blitz: Belfast is the target tonight for the bombers of Luftflotte 2 and 3. Starting at 2300 hours, the heavy German air raid by 200 Luftwaffe bombers attacked Belfast, Northern Ireland. The attack would last until 0500 hours on the next day. A total of nine He 111s and Ju 88s from KG 77, KGr 100, KGr 806 and III./KG 55 begin the raid shortly before midnight. A He 111 from 8./KG 55 crashes at Villacoublay airfield returning from the mission. Hit by anti-aircraft fire over the target, three of the crew bail out over England and become Prisoners of War. Two more Heinkels from KG 55 are shot down by Beaufighters from RAF No 604 Squadron. Luftwaffe bombers dropped 203 tons of high explosive bombs, 80 parachute mines and 800 incendiary canisters on the city. 900 civilians are killed, 1,500 injured and 56,000 homes (half of the houses in Belfast) were damaged leaving 100,000 homeless. Volunteer fire crews from Ireland cross the border to assist and stay 3 days. Four aircraft of 3./KG 53 took off from Vitry-en-Artois at 2200 hours on April 15th to attack Belfast. As the plane, a Heinkel, approached Kirkby Stephen on its flight across England, the oil pressure on its starboard engine fell to zero - there had been no fighter attack or AA gunfire, so the prime suspect was mechanical failure. The decision was made to return to base but it proved impossible to maintain height on one engine. Just as the plane was nearing Ripon the troublesome engine burst into flames, whereupon the large HE bomb was jettisoned. The crew baled out, landed safely and were captured. The plane crashed at Bull Lane Bridge, Huby in Yorkshire at 0200 hours.

Luftwaffe night raid on Liverpool with 51 bombers.

Newcastle, Sunderland, Hebburn and South Shields were attacked by a total of thirty-eight enemy aircraft which dropped a total of thirty-eight tons of HE (sixty-four bombs), twenty-nine PMs and 4,200 IBs. Incidents were reported in eastern Newcastle and at dock installations at Hebburn and South Shields. A school and a nearby Warden's post were demolished by a mine. An air raid warden and a firewatcher were killed at their post in Billy Mill Lane and a woman died in Balkwell Avenue. Ocean View was badly hit, with fourteen of the fifteen people killed died at Ocean View, the fifteenth died in Mason Avenue. The Catholic Church at Tynemouth was also damaged by blast. In an air raid on Cowpen, damage was reported at the Port Sanitary Hospital, Cowpen Cemetery Church, Cowpen Road and John Street. Eighteen people were killed, thirty-six seriously injured and seventy-nine slightly injured at about 0300 hours when four PMs, HEs and a number of IBs fell at Sunderland. Three hundred people were rendered homeless. The premises of Sunderland Forge& Engineering Co (where five of the fatalities occurred) and T.W. Greenwell& Co, South Dock were damaged and production slightly affected. The Winter Gardens (and its parrots) in Mowbray Park was hit, the Museum and Art Gallery were seriously damaged.

Eleven German aircraft raided Hull. There was industrial, residential and railway damage. In this raid, the casualties were fifty-five killed and twenty seriously injured. Five hundred people in the vicinity were rendered homeless. Ellis Terrace, Holderness Road, a thickly populated area, a public shelter received a direct hit and all the occupants were killed (twenty-six of the fatalities occurred in Ellis Terrace and/or its public shelter) and a fire was started in Jennings Street.

RAF Coastal Command is brought under the operational control of the Admiralty which will lead to an increase in its effectiveness in the battle against the U-boats.

Charles de Gaulle, the leader of the Free French forces, issues a formal declaration, requesting that French nationals serving the Royal Air Force apply to be incorporated into the Free French Air Force by 25 April. Their service in a foreign country's armed forces violated French civil law, but de Gaulle's declaration promises that they will face no charges of wrongdoing if they meet the 25 April deadline.

MEDITERRANEAN: Unternehmen 25/ Unternehmen Marita: In Greece, German aircraft bombed the British RAF airfield at Larisa at dawn, destroying 10 Blenheim aircraft on the ground. A whole squadron of Blenheims were destroyed at Niamata while forty-four Yugoslav aircraft which had escaped to the Greek airfield at Paraythia were attacked and destroyed. In the air, the Luftwaffe destroyed four British Gladiators, three Greek PZL P-24s and one RAF Hurricane – three of the Allied planes being shot down by Oblt. Gustav Rödel of II./JG 27. Italian 9th Army captures Koritza practically forcing the British Commonwealth Forces to abandon the defence of Greece. List now detached SS 'Adolf Hitler' from the main axis of advance of XXXXth corps and sent it forward in the direction of Koritsa. Far from counter-attacking, however, the demoralized Greeks gave way and thus allowed the Italians to occupy the town without resistance. Troops of Leibstandarte SS Regiment took the road to Greneva, isolating the Greek Epirus Army which was attempting to move from Albania back into Greece. This move also exposed the flank of the Allied Mount Olympus Line. With 9th Armored division crossing the upper Aliakhmon and reaching Servia on the next day, the British forces on the Olympus found themselves surrounded on both flanks. At 1000 hours, British General Wilson orders a retreat 80 miles south to the Thermopylae line, yielding all of Northern Greece but protecting the capital Athens on the peninsula of Attica. They now started falling back across Thessaly to Thermopylae, leaving in their wake 20,000 Greek troops who, being less well endowed with motor vehicles, failed to escape in time and were captured by the Germans. ANZAC troops will hold the Mount Olympus line for a few days to cover the retreat of the mobile Allied forces but the Greek Army (which is still north of this line and moving on foot) will be abandoned. This defense had three main components: the Platamon tunnel area between Olympus and the sea, the Olympus pass itself, and the Servia pass to the southeast. By channeling the attack through these three defiles, the new line offered far greater defensive strength for the limited forces available. The defenses of the Olympus and Servia passes consisted of the 4th New Zealand Brigade, 5th New Zealand Brigade, and the 16th Australian Brigade. The advance of the 9.Panzerdivision was stalled in front of these resolutely held positions. A ruined castle dominated the ridge across which the coastal pass led to Platamon. During the night of April 15 a German motorcycle battalion supported by a tank battalion attacked the ridge, but the Germans were repulsed by the 21st New Zealand Battalion under Colonel Macky, which suffered heavy losses in the process. As the situation grew dire, British Admiral Cunningham began considering a general evacuation from Greece.

Elements of German 164th Infantry Division occupy island of Thasos.

British vessels "Quiloa" and "Goalpara" are bombed and destroyed by Axis aircraft in the Aegean Sea.

Resistance in Yugoslavia is more or less over. Yugoslav 2nd Army, holding Sarajevo, capitulates as 2 Panzer Divisions enter the city simultaneously. German 16th Motorized Division triumphantly enters the city. Sarajevo. Other Yugoslav units have withdrawn into mountainous areas in the West of the country. Bulgarian 5th Army begins occupying Morava and Macedonia.

Croatian fascist leader Ante Pavelić returns to Zagreb to set up the Independent State of Croatia in collaboration with Nazi Germany. Hitler sends congratulatory message to Pavelic for his assumption of power in Croatia. Rome and Bratislava recognizes independent Croatia.

The dive-bombers of the I Gruppe of Major Graf Clemens von Schönborn-Wiesentheid's SKG 77 leave their airfield at Arad and move near Bucharest.

Lt. Hans-Jacob Arnoldy of II./JG 77 is shot down by a RAF Hurricane and severely injured. He dies by the end of the day with seven victories to his credit.


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